Is it a real thing? Does it have real power? Is it a Jewish idea? And where does the concept come from?

Medieval Usage: Six- or Five-Pointed Star

In Medieval writings (both Jewish and non-Jewish), the “Seal of Solomon” is a mystical symbol, a six-pointed star (also known as a hexagram, and later given the name “Star of David”) or a five-pointed star (aka a pentagram), said to have spiritual powers.

The six-pointed star was previously used in ancient synagogues and designs on books, such as the Leningrad Codex (11th century). Early Jewish texts on practical Kabbalah, such as Sefer Raziel,1 ascribed great mystical significance to the hexagram, prescribing it for use in amulets. They did not, however, give it a name. It was only later that Kabbalists began sporadically referring to this shape as the Seal of Solomon.2 It is possible that these Kabbalists were simply adopting the terminology common in wider Medieval writings, and not attributing any significance to the link between the shape and the name.

Over the generations, the six-pointed star gradually acquired the name Star of David (Magen David),3 eventually transcending its mystical roots to become a symbol of the Jewish people.4 The name, “Seal of Solomon,” fell into disuse, and now is generally used only in non-Jewish contexts when referring to the so-called “magical” properties of the five or six-pointed star.

So although it seems that the six-pointed star has Kabbalistic significance, its connection to a specific seal belonging to Solomon is dubious at best. So where does the name “seal of Solomon” come from?

The Origin of Solomon’s Seal

The actual source for the “seal of Solomon” is one of the most intriguing stories in the entire Talmud.5

However, while the story makes it clear that Solomon had a signet ring engraved with G‑d’s name which made the holder either impervious to demonic power or gave the holder dominance over demons,6 there is no reference to there being a six-pointed star on the ring. The story in short is as follows:

When King Solomon began building the Holy Temple, he faced a Divine restriction: no iron tools (axes or hammers) could be used to cut the stones, as iron is a tool of war and the Temple is a home of peace.

He was told about the “shamir,” a legendary creature capable of cutting the hardest stone, which Moses had previously utilized to cut the gemstones used to decorate the High Priests’ breastplate. The challenge, however, was finding it.

The Sages realized that Ashmedai, king of the demons, would know the Shamir's location, so Solomon sent his general, Benayahu son of Yehoyada, on a mission to capture the demon king.

Benayahu set off, armed with a chain and a signet ring—both engraved with the Holy Name of G‑d.

After tricking Ashmedai into getting drunk and falling asleep, Benayahu bound him with the chain engraved with G‑d's name. When Ashmedai awoke and struggled against the chains, Benayahu warned him: “The name of your Master is upon you,” forcing the demon to submit.

The demon king was brought to Solomon, and, after contending with various obstacles, they finally acquired the sought-after shamir creature and were able to build the Holy Temple.

Solomon held Ashmedai captive until the construction was completed. One day, alone with the demon, Solomon’s curiosity got the better of him. He asked Ashmedai, “The Torah praises G‑d for having demons and angels to fulfill his directives.7 In what way are you superior to humans? Why does the Torah praise your power?”

Ashmedai replied that he could only demonstrate his true strength if Solomon removed the binding chain and lent him the ring that had been used to capture him.

The moment Solomon removed the chain and handed over the ring, Ashmedai seized the opportunity. He swallowed the ring and grew to a cosmic size, with one wing touching heaven and the other touching earth.

Ashmedai flung Solomon a vast distance away from Jerusalem. The demon king then assumed Solomon’s appearance and usurped the throne. Solomon was left a beggar, wandering the land, claiming to be the true King.

Ultimately, Ashmedai’s ruse was discovered and Solomon returned to the throne again, using his ring that the Sages had retrieved to frighten Ashmedai away.

Another reference to a seal associated with Solomon and mystical power is found in Josephus,8 where he describes part of Solomon’s greatness as his ability to exorcise demons from people. Josephus also reports that in his own day, someone performed an exorcism in Vespasian’s presence, using a prescription from Solomon which involved a ring.

To summarize, there is a Talmudic source for a seal belonging to Solomon. As far as we know, it was engraved solely with G‑d’s name, as recorded in the Talmud. Medieval writings associated the tradition about Solomon’s seal with the pentagram and hexagram shapes. Separately, there is a mystical tradition attributing significance to the hexagram shape. Later Kabbalists sometimes referred to the hexagram as the “Seal of Solomon.”

So was there a Star of David on Solomon’s ring? Who knows? And does the association between the star and the name, “Seal of Solomon,” have any Jewish significance? Questionable.

The Maharal’s Allegorical Explanation

Interestingly, Rabbi Yehuda Lowe, the Maharal of Prague, understands the whole interaction between Solomon, Benayahu, and Ashmedai as spiritual in nature, and the ring—along with several other details—as entirely allegorical.9 The story is recorded to highlight Solomon’s spiritual greatness, even over incorporeal beings.

Although the Shamir was a real creature, the demons were non-physical beings. The Maharal explains that Solomon’s control over them with the help of his ring and chain was not a literal, physical dominance but a spiritual one. The chain represented Solomon’s connection to the Divine, and the seal engraved with G‑d’s name represented his intellect and human dignity.10

As long as Solomon maintained his spiritual focus, he ruled. When he surrendered these symbols—representing his intellect and connection to G‑d—he lost his dominance over the demons and Ashmedai took over.

According to this, the only possible connection between the Star of David and the Seal of Solomon would be entirely symbolic.

For more information on the Star of David see: Magen David

For understanding Talmudic stories allegorically, see: Is Midrash for Real

For more information on the Shamir, see: Modern Physics and the Shamir