What dose the Star of David symbolize?

Question

I DO NOT WANT THIS TO BECOME A JEW-BASHING POST!

I’ve always wondered what the Star of David meant; I’ve heard a few different interpretations of the significance behind the symbol, I just kind of wanted a Jews’ clarification. I’ve heard it means many different things. I really am curious, but if you feel that it would be inappropriate to discuss something of a sacred nature on an open forum like this, just say that instead; I don’t want you to “cast your purls before swine”.

Things I've heard are:
1.A covenant with God (upward pointing triange means man’s promise to God, the downward pointing one meaning God’s promise to man)
2.Sex or a divine union of male and female energy (male is represented by the upward pointing triangle and the female by the downward pointing one. An idea made popular by The DaVinci Code)
3.It was the royal crest of King David (yeah, the one from The Bible, you Christian twits).
4.It had astrological significance to the birth of Kind David.
5.The six days of Creation plus the seventh day of rest.
6.The six working days in the week plus Shabbat.
7.The Menorah in the ancient Temples.

Answer 1

The Magen David (literally "Shield of David") has six-points, which symbolize that God rules over the universe and protects us from all six directions: North, South, East, West, Up and Down. A similar symbolism is found in reading the "Shema." ("Code of Jewish Law" O.C. 61:6)

Thus, King David used this six-pointed symbol to signify that the Almighty shields him in war. (Rabbi Moshe Feinstein - "Igrot Moshe" O.C. 3:15)

Answer 2

Whoo. It has a lot of meanings.

I'll start as basic as possible....well, there's not much "basic" here. There are a number of theories, many interestingly having to do with numbers...

The star actually equals seven--the six points and the center, corresponding to seven days of creation, seven lamps on a menorah, etc.

The word "David" is three letters in Hebrew, two of which are the same (Dalet), and way back when this letter was written as a triangle--thus the theory runs that it's the two Dalets juxtaposed. This ties in with the theory of a family crest.

Jewish mysticism links it with the Seal of Solomon (another name for it used even today) as a symbol used by King Solomon to control and command spirits.

There are many more theories, including the ones you have posted...and truth be told, nobody really knows where it came from.

Answer 3

Star of David (Magen David, Shield of David)

The Star of David is the primary modern emblem of the Jewish religion. How it came to be such is a matter of some debate. Legend has it that the emblem was used by the Biblical King David (hence the name 'Magen David,' or shield of David).

In reality, it was not associated specifically with the faith until the middle ages, when it began to appear on flags, tombstones, and synagogue decorations. It is probably not coincidental that the symbol was important to the flourishing kabbalistic tradition of the same time period. Kabbalistically, the hexagram symbolizes the six directions of space, the divine union of male and female energy, and the four elements.

The Star of David is also important in the Rastafarian and Messianic Christian religions.

Answer 4

I am jewish,
I think most people see it as primarily a crest from King David,

on the ones you list:
1) eh, sure why not.
2) this is closer to sorta like one I'll mention below...
3) covered
4) haven't heard of this one, so no clue.
5) haven't heard that one, and that doesn't entirely make sense to me. I can't say I'd entirely agree with it.
6) see #5.
7) meh. don't see the correlation except the "6" part. which is pretty insignifigant in that sense, IMO.

by Kabbalah, its also representative of a concept of "As above, so below" which is a phrase thats used in some other jewish things as well, a concept of some things being microcosmic/macrocosmic, and things here being a shadow/echo of things in heaven.

another symbol thats "similar" sorta is the Merkabah, which is two 4 sided pyramids, one spinning clockwise, one counterclockwise, and interlocked and the star of david is in a sense, a 2d rendition of this. but this is not a "standard" view of it....

I've got a personal... understanding... derived from the merkabah thing thats, well, far off enough from common understanding I'd be uncomfortable trying to explain it here.

Answer 5

These are trolls, not to be taken seriously. Or maybe they should be, because they show their true faces - that they are just Jews not even in disguise. You might want to check how many Sunni traditions have been taken after Jews, one example being the fasting on Ashura. Some traditions are found in Sunni books to the effect that the Prophet (saw) on migrating to Medina found the Jews fasting on the 10th of Muharram. He asked them why, and was told: "It is an auspicious day; it is the day when God delivered the children of Israel from their enemy (i.e. Pharaoh); and, therefore, Moses fasted on that day." The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, "I am worthier of Moses than you are." Thereupon, he fasted on that day and ordered (the Muslims) to fast. Sahih of al-Bukhari, Vol.3; Egypt ed.; p.54 That's something for the trolls to think about the next time they claim that Shia Muslims follow Jews.

Answer 6

The flag of Israel, will fly over Jerusalem throughout the mellinium.
I Cr 13;8a, Love never fails!!!!!
10-1-6

Answer 7

If you look in the dictionary it says it is a sign of Judaism. To me it is the symbol used to signify a people who belong to the destructive side of nature. (You can make of that what you want.)

Answer 8

2 I.U.s.