Ever wonder if words could hold secret meanings? Like, could your name—yes, your name—have a hidden message tucked inside it, just waiting to be discovered? That’s the kind of mystery that gematria explores (גימטריה). It’s not just number-crunching or cryptic code-breaking. Gematria is a fascinating system of turning letters into numbers to uncover deeper, often mystical, meanings. Used for centuries in Jewish tradition, it’s part logic, part spirituality, and all kinds of intriguing.
The Origins of Gematria: Where Spiritual Math Began
To understand gematria, we’ve got to take a quick trip back in time—ancient Hebrew time, to be exact.
In Hebrew, every letter of the alphabet (called the Aleph-Bet) has a corresponding numerical value. This wasn’t a coincidence—it was intentional. People believed that the Torah, the central text of Judaism, wasn’t just written—it was coded. So by translating the letters into numbers, scholars could find hidden layers of meaning in the text.
The roots of gematria go deep into Kabbalah—a form of Jewish mysticism. But even beyond the mystical, gematria became a way for rabbis and scholars to compare words and phrases based on their numerical values.
Kind of like spiritual Sudoku.
How Gematria Works: Turning Letters Into Numbers
Okay, here’s how it actually works—don’t worry, it’s simple math.
Each Hebrew letter equals a number:
Aleph (א) = 1
Bet (ב) = 2
…
Yud (י) = 10
Kaf (כ) = 20
…
Qof (ק) = 100
And so on.
So, when you write a word in Hebrew, you can add up the value of each letter to get the word’s total number.
For example:
The word חי (Chai), meaning life, is made of:
Chet (ח) = 8
Yud (י) = 10
Total = 18
That’s why the number 18 is a big deal in Jewish culture. People give gifts in multiples of 18 to symbolize giving life or blessing. Ever seen someone donate $180 or $36? Now you know why.
Hebrew Gematria Table
Hebrew Gematria Table
| Hebrew Letter | Name | Gematria Value |
|---|---|---|
| א | Aleph | 1 |
| ב | Bet | 2 |
| ג | Gimel | 3 |
| ד | Dalet | 4 |
| ה | He | 5 |
| ו | Vav | 6 |
| ז | Zayin | 7 |
| ח | Chet | 8 |
| ט | Tet | 9 |
| י | Yud | 10 |
| כ | Kaf | 20 |
| ל | Lamed | 30 |
| מ | Mem | 40 |
| נ | Nun | 50 |
| ס | Samekh | 60 |
| ע | Ayin | 70 |
| פ | Pe | 80 |
| צ | Tsadi | 90 |
| ק | Qof | 100 |
| ר | Resh | 200 |
| ש | Shin | 300 |
| ת | Tav | 400 |
Final Form Letters (Sofit)
| Hebrew Letter | Name | Gematria Value |
|---|---|---|
| ך | Final Kaf | 500* |
| ם | Final Mem | 600* |
| ן | Final Nun | 700* |
| ף | Final Pe | 800* |
| ץ | Final Tsadi | 900* |
*In extended gematria systems. In traditional use, they usually share values with their standard forms.
Why Gematria Matters: Symbolism, Mysticism, and Meaning
You might be wondering, Okay, cool—so what’s the point of all this?
Well, gematria is all about finding connections. If two different words have the same numerical value, some believe they’re spiritually linked. Like a hidden thread tying them together.
Let’s say the Hebrew word for “love” and the word for “unity” had the same value—pretty poetic, right? That’s exactly the kind of insight gematria can offer.
But it goes deeper. Mystics have used it to:
- Decode deeper meanings in biblical verses
- Reveal divine names or attributes
- Suggest metaphysical truths about the universe
Is it science? No. But is it fascinating? Absolutely.
Famous Examples of Gematria in Jewish Tradition
Gematria shows up all over the place in traditional Jewish texts—and it’s often used to explain or emphasize certain ideas.
Here are a few fun (and famous) examples:
“Chai” = 18 → Life, vitality, good luck
The Shema (a central prayer) is sometimes analyzed through gematria to show connections to God’s unity. The first verse of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4) has a gematria value of 1118 using the Chariot gematria system. This is significant because it equals 86 x 13, where 86 is the gematria of Elohim (God) and 13 is the gematria of Echad (one)
Some even interpret the 613 commandments (yes, there are that many!) as being hinted at through gematria in key verses.
Modern Interpretations: Gematria in Today’s World
So is gematria still relevant today? You bet.
While it’s deeply rooted in religious tradition, people now explore gematria in a bunch of modern ways:
- Personal name analysis (a bit like spiritual numerology)
- Discovering “angel numbers” in Hebrew texts
- Finding connections between Hebrew and English words using adapted gematria systems
And thanks to technology, there are even gematria calculators online where you can plug in a name or phrase and get its numerical value instantly. It’s like having mystical Google.
Some folks see it as deeply spiritual. Others just love the puzzle. Either way, it’s a fun, thought-provoking way to look at language.
Final Thoughts: A Little Math, a Lot of Meaning
Gematria is more than just number play—it’s a bridge between letters, numbers, and meaning.
So the next time you see a Hebrew word—or even your own name—ask yourself:
What number lives inside it? And what secrets might it hold?
Because in the world of gematria, every letter counts. Literally.
💡 Want to Try It Yourself?
Curious what your name or favorite phrase equals in gematria? Let me know—I’ll help you decode it. Try our free online gematria calculator and go down the rabbit hole. It’s addictive (in a good way).