Gematria: Meaning, Code & Use

What is Gematria?

Gematria numerology is a system whereby each Hebrew letter corresponds to a specific number ranging from one to ninety. These numbers can be calculated to reveal inner meanings found in all sorts of Jewish literature. The focal texts for many scholars being the Talmud and Mishnah, although Gematria can and is applied to any sort of Hebrew text. The first Jewish scholars to derive spiritual interpretations using Gematria were the Kabbalists, the mystical branch of Jewish thought.

What is gleaned from Gematria calculations are interpretations of meaning that connect certain concepts, persons, or spiritual beliefs to one another. If a words numerical value matches another than there is a distinct relationship drawn between the two words or concepts. There are numerous ways to interpret Gematria coding, with variations continuing to be found in both old and new sources.

Table of Contents

What is Gematria?
What is the meaning of Gematria?
How to use Gematria
Gematria code and numbers
Gematria chart
Summary

What is the meaning of Gematria?

Gematria (from the Greek word geometria) is a kind of numerology, but this falls short in explaining its inner workings. The multiple conclusions that can be gleaned from words that share relationships with one another are infinite.

Ancient gematria was stauncher in its methods of interpretation than the modern use of the system. Ancient gematria featured words that indicated addition, subtraction, multiplication, as well as words to include and not include. Modern gematria is far less stringent but still wildly complex.

It is the numerous possibilities in calculation and meaning that distinguish gematria from exact numerology. Just like most variations and translations of Hebrew literature every reading is a commentary. The mind and perspective of the interpreter differentiates understandings of the text. This contributes to one of gematrias most defining characteristics, secrecy. Its use can elaborate on a text while producing even more questions and considerations of meaning.

This secrecy of knowledge is what first attracted Kabbalistic minds. These sages lived for accessing the unseen areas of value and content in Jewish ritual and spiritual experiences. Although gematria appears in both biblical and rabbinic texts it wasn’t common as a practice till it reached kabbalists.

Sefer Yetzirah was the earliest kabbalistic text and the first to employ gematria. Kabbalists used the system to draw more mystical conclusions regarding the creation of the universe. They paid special attention to the name of God as a method of creation. Concern for identifying the name of God is a staple pillar of inquiry in gematria history. During the 1200s, the Hasidism of Ashkenaz also used gematria in their mystical writings pertaining to the names of God. Eventually these writings made their way to Castille, influencing thinkers like Abraham Abulafia and Moses Cordovero of Safed.

How to use Gematria

Contemporary gematria calculation, the mispar hechrachi method (which translates to absolute value), is simple enough. The letters themselves are added up according to their numerical values. Then there are several other systems for gematria calculation used by both ancient and modern scholars, which add to gematria’s extensive systems of interpretation. Listed below are only a few of the methods one can employ for gematria calculation:

Mispar Gadol (large value) adds the value of the end letters to words, which are valued from 500 to 900.

Mispar Siduri (ordinal value) gives each letter a number from 1 to 22 in alphabetical order.

Mispar Katan (small value) takes the value of the letters and removes the 0 after the later letters of the alphabet.

Mispar Perati (individual value) squares each number by its standard value.

Mispar Shemi (full name value) calculates amount based on the value of the letters in its name.

Atbash is a system which calculates value by exchanging each letter’s value for its opposite value, aleph switches with tav, beit would switch with shin, and so on.

These contemporary equations are used most often, but there are eighteen other methods for valuing Hebrew letters. The original biblical method of gematria calculation has its own letter values as well. These systems add layers of interpretation when combined with overall stories, culture, and legal content of Jewish texts.

Gematria code and numbers

Gematria code is first mentioned in the baraita of the Thirty-two Rules, written by Rabbi Eliezer in 200 CE. The baraita which elaborated thirty-two rules for interpreting the Bible listed gematria as the 29^th rule. One of the most famous examples of gematria use can also be found in this baraita, an interpretation of Genesis 14:14. According to the verse there are 318 men that make up the house of Abram (Abraham). The men composed an army that avenged his brethren against enemy peoples. However, the numerical value of Eliezer’s name was the only one that equaled 318. This indicates that only Eliezer shared kinship ties with Abram.

To elaborate on the brilliance of gematria code, let’s trace applications of a single value using the biblical method. This method is the same as standard gematria, but the letter shin equals three, and tav equals 4. In Genesis 1:1 it is written “In the beginning created Elohim The Heavens and The Earth.” The individual values of each portion would be calculated like so: In the beginning (220) created (203) Elohim (86) The Heavens (98) and (+) The Earth (296) = 700. The numerical value for the word for days “יָמִ֖ים” can be multiplied by seven indicating perhaps the seven days of creation.

Kabbalists would also equate the value of 700 with the Seven Palaces. These palaces were the houses of God, each one associated with a certain letter of the alphabet. These letters represent some form or quality of the connection between earth and heaven.

Other appearances of the value 700 can be found in the names of the three patriarchs of Judaism: Abraham (248), Isaac (208), and Israel (244). This is perhaps alluding to the patriarchs as the creators of the nation Israel, the originators. Creation is an undeniable tie between heaven and earth. Just like God, all beings, but particularly humans, create a living line of influence all tied to heaven.

Other kabbalistic gematria interpretations include ties between different historic events in Judaism. In Genesis 28:12, Jacob (Israel) saw a ladder or sullam סלם stretching from earth to heaven. The value of sullam is 130 (60 + 30 + 40) which is the same numerical value of Sinai (60 + 10 + 50 + 10). Exegetes concluded that the law that was revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai is the Jewish nations means of connecting with God.

Gematria chart

While there are numerous systems of value for gematria code the chart below includes the standard values for each letter. Generally, with this set of numbers, amounts are calculated based on addition. However, there are systems that feature certain combinations of letters that can divide, subtract, and multiply amounts.

Aleph א	1
Bet ב	2
Gimel ג	3
Dalet ד	4
Hei ה	5
Vav ו	6
Zayin ז	7
Chet ח	8
Tet ט	9
Yud י	10
Kaf כ	20
Lamed ל	30
Mem מ	40
Nun נ	50
Samech ס	60
Ayin ע	70
Peh/Phey פ	80
Tzadik צ	90
Kuf ק	100
Resh ר	200
Shin ש	300
Tav ת	400

Summary

Gematria is a beautiful but often overlooked method of biblical interpretation. For some it is considered a lost of dying art form. However, the practice has gained a newfound crowd of scholarly and public attention, as new calculations and meanings are yet to be discovered. Recently, archaeological evidence was unearthed that suggests gematria was used even during Israel’s bronze era. The use of coding within text is much older than gematria. However, its specific uses within the context of Jewish thought, religion, and spirituality gives the whole of Judaism as greater potency. Much more than what can be seen with the naked eye. In Jewish scholarship and text interpretation levels of knowledge must be earned. Gematria is the quintessential practice of such a principle, and when mastered can lead to a world of possibilities.

FAQs:

What is Gematria used for?

Gematria is used for deepening understandings of the Hebrew Bible and its subsequent texts through numerological interpretations.

How does Gematria work?

Gematria works by applying number values to letters in the Hebrew alphabet. These values are then added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided according to various methods of gematria numerology. The sums of these calculations provide greater insight into the content of the text itself or relating it to other written works.