Getting to know the Jewish Symbols
Many Jewish symbols you probably recognize immediately – like the Star of David. Others may look familiar but you need a little more context to understand them. For example, Hebrew letters used in Synagogues, on doorposts, or even on people’s jewelry and tattoos.
Then, there are religious, cultural, and historical symbols. Take for example the priestly breastplate. It serves as representation of faith, identity, and tradition for Jewish people around the world. And there are many more like it.
The following list of Jewish symbols will introduce you to Jewish religious practices, ceremonies, personal expressions of faith, and more. Here is a list of 35 symbols to better understand the people of Israel and maybe even the Bible.
Jewish Symbols in the Bible (Symbols 1-10)
This first category of Jewish symbols takes us on a journey through the Bible. It should come as no surprise that the Hebrew Scriptures are full of significant symbols that matter greatly to the Jewish people, and possibly to Christians, too.
- Menorah
The menorah is a seven-branched candelabrum that stood in the Tabernacle first and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Bible gives a very detailed description of what it looked like. It represents light, wisdom, and divine inspiration.
Christians may see the menorah as a symbol of God’s presence. As an inherent part of the Temple, it is also a part of Jesus’ Jewish heritage. - Shofar
Shofar is the Hebrew name for a ram’s horn. This symbolic instrument is essential to Rosh Hashanah (also called Yom Teruah – Day of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur observances. It symbolizes a call to repentance and to stand firm with and before the Lord. - Torah Scroll
You may think a scroll is just a scroll. But for the Jewish people, if you see a symbolic scroll, for example on a piece of jewelry, you can be sure it represents the Word of God. Torah is the handwritten scroll containing the first five books of the Bible. It represents the central text of Jewish life and worship. - Tablets of the Law
Two tablets, often rounded at the top, represent the law Moses received from God on Mount Sinai. They contained the Ten Commandments and symbolize the covenant between God and the Jewish people. - Lion of Judah
A lion is a long-standing symbol of Judah and the Jewish people. That is to say, it goes all the way back to the blessings uttered by Jacob over his sons, when the patriarch called Judah a lion’s cub (Gen 49:9). This symbol of strength and leadership also points to the lineage of King David and the Messiah.
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- Aaron’s Breastplate (Choshen)
Worn by the High Priest, this breastplate had 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel. It is named after Aaron, because God granted Aaron’s descendants the honor of serving as priests. The breastplate symbolizes leadership and divine guidance. - Olive Branch
This common symbol of peace has been a part of Jewish tradition for centuries. Although an olive branch is a common symbol also in Greek tradition, the Bible mentions very early on.
After the flood, when the rains ceased and Noah was eager to find dry land, a dove he sent out returned to him with an olive branch in its beak (Gen 8:11). Thus, after an age of horrible sins and great devastation, the olive branch became symbolic of harmony, hope and a new season of peace. - Matzah
Are you familiar with the unleavened bread the Jewish people eat during Passover? It’s called matzah. It symbolizes the haste in which the Israelites left Egypt without time for their bread to rise.
Additionally, matzah is significant to Christians – whether they know it or not – due to Jesus’ Last Supper, which was a Passover meal. The first communion involved matzah as bread. - Lulav, Etrog, and Hoshanot
These names probably sound foreign to you, because they are in Hebrew. But they actually stand for familiar things. The lulav is a palm branch, etrog is a citron, and hoshanot are willow branches.
Used during the Sukkot holiday, they are a part of the Hoshanah Rabbah ritual, as described in the Bible. - Sukkah
A sukkah represents the shelters the Israelites lived in during their journey in the desert. God commanded His people to build these shelters every year, at the time of Sukkot (plural of sukkah). They are a reminder of God’s protection and sustenance during the Israelites’ escape from Egypt.
Jewish Symbols Inspired by the Bible (Symbols 11-17)
The following symbols do not appear in the Bible. However, the inspiration for each one of these comes directly from the Word of God.
- Tallit
Tallit is a prayer shawl that the Jewish people wear during prayers. It reminds the wearer of the commandments of the Torah. Every tallit is supposed have blue and white fringes, tzitzit in Hebrew. God told Moses to instruct the people to wear tzitzit on the corners of their garments, as a reminder to obey God. - Grape Cluster
Although the large cluster of grapes does appear in the Bible – when the Israelites first approached the Promised Land – it did not become a Jewish symbol until much later. Over time, a grape cluster would become associated with the abundance in the land of Israel.
Today, this Jewish symbol represents prosperity and points to the richness of the land that God gave to His people. - Mikveh
Mikveh is a ritual bath used for purification. While the structure itself is not a symbol, its water symbolizes spiritual renewal and cleansing. The Scripture often commands ritual baths for both men and women, to present oneself clean before God. This act was also the inspiration behind the ministry of John the Baptist and why his practice was not shocking to his audience. - Shema
Shema is a Hebrew word for “listen” or “hear”. Why would a single word become symbolic? “Shema” is the first word of a declaration from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 that has come to define the Jewish identity:
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
This powerful passage is a symbol of Jewish faith and devotion. To this day, believing Jews around the world declare these words every morning and evening.
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- Mezuzah
If you’ve been to Israel, you probably saw plenty of Mezuzot (pl. of Mezuzah) on doorposts. And some probably caught your attention more than others. Why are they there? And what’s inside the little box?
This Jewish symbol serves as a reminder of faith and the presence of God in one’s home. Inside, there is a small scroll of parchment containing Torah verses, usually the Shema (see above). They are often a real piece of artwork. - Tefillin (Phylacteries)
Tefillin is an example of how sometimes the Bible doesn’t specify how to fulfill a commandment. But you can always just take it… literally. Deuteronomy 6:8 says, “You shall bind [the law] as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes.”
This is where the tefillin comes in. It is a set of small black leather boxes containing Torah verses that one can literally tie to their forehead and to their arm. - Dreidel
To understand the dreidel, you need to learn the story of Hanukkah first. This spinning top is a part of a holiday game, but the letters on each side stand for words, “A great miracle happened there.” In other words, even the dreidel is a reminder that God did a miracle for His people.
Jewish Symbols from Jewish History (Symbols 18-27)
By now, you may be wondering, how come we have not mentioned the Star of David yet. That is because there are some popular Jewish symbols which, despite their long history, are not in the Bible. So, here are more Jewish symbols that developed through the years.
- Star of David (Magen David)
This six-pointed star is often associated with Jewish identity and Judaism as a whole. While some Christians recognize it as a symbol of the biblical covenant between God and Israel, it is not a Biblical symbol. In Hebrew, it’s called “the shield of David”, but we don’t actually now if David has ever seen or used it. - Kippah (Yarmulke)
A small cap worn on the head as a sign of reverence and recognition of a higher authority. One could argue that the Bible encouraged its use as a way to honor God. Nevertheless, any such covering is never directly mentioned in the Bible. - Challah
The most delicious kind of bread in Israel (probably). Who doesn’t love a freshly baked Challah at the beginning of Shabbat? Although it does not appear in the Bible, this braided bread symbolizes the manna provided by God to the Israelites in the desert. - Ketubah
Have you ever been to a Jewish wedding? You may have noticed that the bride and groom sign not only the legal documents, but also a very ornate piece of art. This decorative piece, called ketubah, is a Jewish marriage contract that symbolizes commitment and covenant. - Shabbat Candles
In most Jewish households, the first traditional element of a shabbat dinner is lighting of the candles. It is rather impressive how one element as simple as a set of two candles can become so symbolic and meaningful.
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- Havdalah Candle
While the shabbat candles can be very plain and ordinary, the havdalah candle – used at the end of Shabbat – is very unique and characteristic. It is a braided candle which can even have multiple wicks. It symbolizes the separation of the sacred from the ordinary. - Yad (Torah Pointer)
A Yad is a decorative pointer used to read the Torah scroll without touching it directly. It was introduced to show respect for the sacred texts, and it is used by Jewish people – not just scholars – around the world. - Kiddush Cup
A kiddush cup is not just any ordinary cup. This unique goblet serves one purpose and one purpose only – for blessings over wine on Shabbat and holidays. It is set apart. Kiddush cups are popular among Christians as well, who use them for communion wine. - Synagogue Ark (Aron Kodesh)
When you think of the Ark of the Covenant, you probably have a clear visual in your mind of what it could have looked like. But the Synagogue Ark, called Aron Kodesh in Hebrew, is more like a cabinet to store the Torah scrolls in a synagogue. - Chuppah
Inspired by the sukkah (the booth for the Feast of Tabernacles), chuppah is a canopy specifically for Jewish weddings. Like a sukkah, it represents a home – in this case, a home the couple will build together, inviting the presence of God to their union.
More Jewish Symbols in Israel (Symbols 28-33)
Has our list piqued your curiosity? If you want to learn of a few more symbols used in Israel and Jewish communities, read on!
- Chai (חי)
Chai is the Hebrew word for life. It often appears on jewelry to signify the importance of life, and for many, to remind of the Giver of Life. With so many attempts to annihilate the Jews throughout history and with the growing waves of antisemitism today, the Jewish people emphasize the value of life and life-giving actions at every step. - Kotel
The imagery of Jerusalem or the Western Wall (Kotel) has become symbolic of Zion. That hasn’t always been the case. But since the Muslim presence on the Temple Mount, it is the Western Wall that symbolizes the Jewish people’s connection to the land of Israel and their historical homeland. - Aleph-Bet (Hebrew Alphabet)
Have you realized that our English word Alphabet is actually just the first two Greek letters of the, well, alphabet – Alpha and Bet? So, it’s the same case with Aleph-Bet in Hebrew. The Hebrew letters themselves are often considered sacred, symbolizing divine wisdom and creativity. Each letter has a meaning in itself and a numerical value. - Israeli Flag
Featuring the Star of David and blue stripes inspired by the tallit, the Israeli flag symbolizes the modern Jewish state and the continuity of Jewish identity. - Pomegranate (Rimon)
The pomegranate fruit has been an Israeli symbol ever since the rebirth of the nation. A fruit with many seeds, the “Rimon” symbolizes righteousness and the 613 mitzvot (commandments) in the Torah. It is also a symbol for fertility and abundance.
Controversial Jewish Symbols (Symbols 34-36)
This list would not be complete if we didn’t mention a few more symbols. They are quite prevalent in Israel, but their meaning (and origins) can be a little controversial.
- Hamsa
Popular among Jews and Muslims alike, this hand-shaped amulet appears in countries all throughout the Middle East. Many local tribes believe the hand offers protection against the evil eye and brings blessings, power, and strength. The Bible considers using charms like this idolatry. - Tree of Life (Etz Chaim)
The Tree of Life is a Jewish symbol representing wisdom, growth, and the Torah. It is often depicted in Jewish art and used in the design of synagogue arks. Although it may appear innocent, it is a significant element of the kabbalah, Jewish mysticism. - Evil Eye (Ayin Hara)
Often paired with the Hamsa or other protective amulets, it represents the belief in protection against envy or harm caused by negative thoughts or intentions. Again, such charms should have no place in the lives of the people of God, according to the Bible.
Which of these Jewish symbols did you already know?
Jewish symbols can matter to Christians, but their significance varies depending on the denomination and individual beliefs. Christianity has deep roots in Judaism, so some Jewish symbols hold historical, theological, or spiritual meaning for Christians.
The Bible is full of symbolism and many men of God, not to mention Jesus himself, often used symbols in their teachings. While Jewish symbols aren’t central to Christian worship, they can provide historical and biblical connections that maybe we would have otherwise missed.
Did you already know all the symbols mentioned above? Would you add more to this list? Let us know!
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