how did the Star of David come to be the symbol of judaism?

Question

and what are some of the meanings of the symbol?

allanyoav, i'd give you four or five more ''thumbs up'' ratings if i could. thanks.

and yes, i've heard it called the Shield of David a few times too.

Answer 1

It has been a symbol used by Jews for millenia- it has been found on the ruins of a synagogue that is at least 2300 years old. However, it doesn't appear that it was an universal symbol used commonly by all Jews until around the 10th century. Why it took- off, its not really known, but it was probably tied into the interest that started being shown in the Kaballah at that point. Since Kaballistically it has a lot of different mystical meanings, it became an obvious and often used symbol by Jews.

Edit:
Some of the meanings:
1) The six points represent the six directions in which God surrounds, and protects us: North, South, East, West, Up, Down. Thus it depicts the omnipresent nature of God and of his protection from all sides
2) It is symbolic of prayer: The upward triangle is symbolic of our prayers- gathered at the bottom and flowing up to the divine point of God. The downward triangle is the flow of Godls love and benefience downwards from his being to us- but we cannot see the totality, merely a point.
3) It is symbolic of the Shabbat- the six mundane days of the week, gathered around the core of spirituality of the Shabbos
Association with David: It is stated by HaRav Moshe Feinstein in Igrot Moshe on Orech Chaim that the Magen David was the shape of David's shield.

Answer 2

The earliest known use of a Jewish Star of David is in Ancient Israel on a seal, circa 6th Century BCE. The next discovered one is as decoration in a synagogue in Capernaum, dated at around the 3rd Century.

In all likelihood, the name 'Magen David' arose from its use in 13th Century kabbalah as a symbol of protection. The association with David is unclear. The symbol is sometimes called the Seal of Solomon (also often used to refer to the Pentagram). It is linked to various parts of the Solomon legends, often as the sign on his (or Asmodeus's) ring.

The specific symbolism of the Star is also unclear. Mystics suggest it represents balance between Above and Below, or fire and earth, or even male and female. However, it's possible it has no symbolism other than looking pretty.

Answer 3

its not satanic, lol, for goodness sakes who would even say that seriously

the symbol has a variety of very godly mystical and metaphysical meanings.

theres a large variety of different meanings it could be said to have.

most of which would be easily misunderstood and warped by those who do not have any interest in understanding, but rather lying and defaming Judaism.

its a very powerful symbol, and very important.

Answer 4

Do not know.

But from what I understand a triangle pointing up means male, and a triangle down means female from ancient times and when on top of each other you might say it is the union of the two energies coming together to form one as in spirit.

Answer 5

I have no personal knowledge to add, except that the answers to this question were very interesting. You learn something new everyday, as they say.

Answer 6

Is the "Star of David" truly a symbol which comes from ancient King

David of Israel? Why does this star figure so prominently in the nation

of "Israel," today? Should the people of God use this symbol?



William F. Dankenbring



The so-called "Star of David" is essentially a "hexagram," nothing more, nothing less. There is no Biblical or Jewish evidence that traces this ancient occult symbol with king David of Israel. However, there is evidence that it was used by king Solomon, after he turned to pagan gods and the occult, late in his life, causing God to become very angry with him .



A Masonic book called The Second Mile, an Eastern Star book, reveals that the "six pointed star is a very ancient symbol, and one of the most powerful." The hexagram is used in magic, witchcraft, sorcery and occultism and the casting of zodiacal horoscopes by astrologers. "It was considered to posses mysterious powers," says A Concise Cyclopaedia of Freemasonry.



The six pointed star is used as a "stand-by for magicians and alchemists. The sorcerers believed it represented the footprints of a special kind of DEMON called a trud and used it in ceremonies both to call up demons and to keep them away" (O. J. Graham, The Six Pointed Star, New Puritan Library, 1988, p.35).



Bill Schnoebelen, a former Satanist, tells us, "To the sorcerer, the hexagram is a powerful tool to invoke Satan." In fact, the word "hex" -- as to put a "hex" or "curse" on people -- comes from this word.



If you examine the so-called "Star of David," or hexagram, closely, you will discover something astonishing. It has six points, forms six equilateral triangles, and in its interior forms a six sided hexagon -- thus it reveals the number of Satan the devil, or the beast of Revelation -- 66, and 6 -- 666 !!!


Scriptural References to understand in the light of this knowledge:

Solomon who loved the Lord in the beginning of his reign, turned away from the true path of worship as he grew older. The Scriptures tell us, "But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites -- from the nations of whom the LORD had said, 'You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after THEIR GODS.' Solomon clave to these in love" (I Kings 11:1-2).



"For it was so when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David" (v.4). Solomon worshipped, among other gods, Ashtoreth (Easter, Venus, Aprhodite), Milcom or Molech, the fiery king of gods whose rites included human sacrifice and witchcraft and sexual orgies, and Chemosh (see verses 5-7). Solomon built high places, temples, and altars, for these pagan abominations, "And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods" (v.8).



Solomon adopted the Hexagram, which became known as "Solomon's Seal." He became a wizard, or consulter of demons and the occult powers of darkness. Thus the hexagram became a prominent symbol in ancient Israel. He adopted it from the pagan nations around him -- but there is no evidence to connect the hexagram with David, his father. There is no reason to believe that David, a man after God's own heart, would ever adopt a pagan symbol for his "shield." But Satan the devil, the chief of liars and deceivers, would certainly love to have you think so! (Rev.12:9; John 8:44).

Answer 7

Not biblical, not even in the OT. The star is made up of two overlaid triangles. Satanic symbol.
Don't know when it was adopted but I can find no reference to King David using this symbol. But I'm not an expert.

Answer 8

Be specific please? Before Judaism was there already he was chosen as the king for he was mighty and Jehovah knew that David has the capacity...

Answer 9

Allanyoav said it all