Star of David

The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David (Hebrew מָגֵן דָּוִד) or Magen David (Biblical Hebrew Māḡēn Dāwīḏ) is a symbol whose shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles. The hexagram has been in use as a symbol of Judaism since the 17th century, with precedents in the 14th to 16th centuries in Central Europe, where the Shield of David was partly used in conjunction with the Seal of Solomon (the hexagram) on Jewish flags. Its use probably derives from medieval (11th to 13th century) Jewish protective amulets (segulot).

In Judaism

The Star of David is used as the symbol of Judaism. It is placed upon synagogues, sacred vessels, and the like, and was adopted as a device by the American Jewish Publication Society in 1873. However, as the online Jewish Encyclopedia states:

The Jewish view of God, which permitted no images of Him, was and still is opposed to the acceptance of any symbols, and neither the Bible nor the Talmud recognizes their existence. It is noteworthy, moreover, that the shield of David is not mentioned in rabbinical literature. The "Magen Dawid," therefore, probably did not originate withinRabbinism, the official and dominant Judaism for more than 2,000 years.

In Theosophy

Stanza V.3 talks about "the six directions of space". One interpretation given by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky relates this to the "double triangle":

By the “Six directions of Space” is here meant the “Double Triangle,” the junction and blending together of pure Spirit and Matter, of the Arupa and the Rupa, of which the Triangles are a Symbol. This double Triangle is a sign of Vishnu, as it is Solomon’s seal, and the Sri-Antara of the Brahmins.

Theosophical Seal

The Two Triangles are also present in the Theosophical Seal.

Further reading

• Magen Dawid ("David's shield") at Jewish Encyclopedia

• Seal of Solomon at Jewish Encyclopedia