Watch: ‘Genie’ Seal Found in Jerusalem Suggests Biblical Figure Was Real

A recently discovered ancient stone seal, featuring a winged “genie” or “demon,” has been found in Jerusalem, offering potential evidence that a Biblical warrior once existed. These stone seals functioned like identification in ancient times, and this particular seal was worn by a man who held a significant position in the holy city around 2,700 years ago.

This is the first time such a seal with a “genie” or “demon” has been uncovered in Jerusalem. The seal is inscribed with the Paleo-Hebrew names “LeYehoʼezer ben Hoshʼayahu,” both of which are mentioned in the Bible—”Yehoʼezer,” also known as “Yoʼezer,” was one of King David’s warriors, while the name “Hoshʼayahu” appears in the Book of Jeremiah as “ʼAzariah ben Hoshʼaya.”

Ronny Reich from the University of Haifa, a research partner, suggested in a press release that it is possible Yehoʼezer himself may have engraved the names on the seal.

The seal also indicates that Jerusalem was a culturally diverse city, a fact also reflected in the Bible. During the First Temple period, Jerusalem was under Assyrian rule, and the seal bears an Assyrian influence, evidenced by the winged figure—a common element in Neo-Assyrian art from the 9th to 7th centuries BCE.

Discovered near the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount in the City of David National Park, the seal has a hole drilled through it, suggesting it might have been worn on a string as an amulet by an official named Hoshʼayahu, who was likely part of the Kingdom of Judah’s administration.

The design of the seal, which required a high level of artistry, implies that Hoshʼayahu may have chosen the demon figure for personal identification to signify his connection to a broader cultural context, according to excavation director Yuval Baruch.

“This is an exceptionally rare and remarkable find,” said IAA Archeologist and Assyriologist Filip Vukosavovic.

The black stone seal is described by researchers as one of the most beautiful ever discovered in ancient Jerusalem. They noted that the two parts of the biblical first name are inscribed in reverse order to match the seal owner’s name, with the second name appearing in its abbreviated form.

This form of writing matches the inscription on the seal, providing evidence that it was created during the First Temple period. The researchers also believe that after Hoshʼayahu’s death, his son Yehoʼezer inherited the seal and added their names on either side of the demon engraving.