What is gematria?

gematria is an ancient system of Hebrew numerology first used in the Middle Ages to gain insight into the divine and mystical properties of words and language. It uses the numerical values of Hebrew letters to calculate a numerical value for each word or phrase. This numerical value can then be used to uncover meanings in Scripture and other texts.

The first use of gematria has been attributed to Jewish scholars in late antiquity, who used it as a tool for analyzing sacred text. Its most prominent use was by biblical interpreters during the Talmudic period (500—1000 CE). During this time, Jews looked for symbolic meaning behind words, often translating one set of terms for another based on gematria values. The practice continued through the Middle Ages and was adopted by Christian scholars during this period as well. Today it is primarily used as a way to gain understanding into kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism.

By assigning a numerical value to each letter in their alphabets, Jews and Christians were able to compare the numerical values of different words or phrases and arrive at deeper meaning. For example, two words with the same gematria can represent a shared idea or concept no matter what language they are written in — this is known as "gematria bridge" — while two words with different Gematria are said to contain opposite concepts or ideas. Similarly, some believe that when two words have numbers which add up to 9, they often share similar principles or metaphysical qualities such as justice or mercy.

Gematria has also been suggested by some kabbalists as a key for predicting events within cosmology — implying that certain occurrences happen when certain combinations of letters reach their required number total within the text. In addition, many believe that specific numbers have unique qualities which give special insight into what's happening in our lives — this is known as "Numerological Interpretation" — which can help uncover messages from God or other unknown forces.