The six-pointed star is a symbol seen throughout the world since the beginning of history. It has had different names, depending on what religion or belief system it appears in.

In the book “Symbols: Signposts of Devotion,” Dr. Ratha Doyle McGee describes two main star symbols for Christians. 

The first is called the Creator Star which consists of two equal sided triangles, one placed on top facing down on another facing up. The three sided angles represent the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit all present as a unity at the moment of creation.

The second is a five-pointed star which has a few different names: Star of Epiphany, Star of Jacob, Star of Jesse or the Star of Bethlehem. The Star of Epiphany is most often applied to this symbol. However, there is an interesting other possibility for this star. It is also sometimes a symbol for Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Hebrew version of the name Mary is Miriam which means star. 

For Jews, the six-pointed star is the Star of David and appears on the flag of Israel. Consisting of two overlaid equal sided triangles, it is also called the “Shield of David.” In the Bible it was King David who united the tribes of Israel.

During the Holocaust of WWII, Jews were forced to wear the Star of David to identify themselves. If they failed to do this, they were punished. Some came to believe that this requirement for Jews actually strengthened the significance of the star, adding elements of martyrdom to its meaning.

For a Christian, looking at the star symbol can be a reminder that God has been, is now, and will forever be, intimately linked to His creation.