Gematria In The Bible

Gematria (Hebrew: גימטריה, also known as gimatria or gematriya) is a form of Jewish mysticism that involves the numerical value of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. This practice is based on the belief that words with the same numerical value have a mystical connection. In the Bible, particularly in the Hebrew scriptures, gematria is used to derive hidden meanings and interpretations from the text. The numerical values are assigned to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, with aleph (א) being 1, bet (ב) being 2, and so on up to tav (ת) being 400. This system allows for the calculation of the total numerical value of a word or phrase, which can then be compared to other words or phrases with the same value. Gematria is often used in rabbinic literature and Kabbalistic texts to uncover deeper, esoteric meanings within the biblical text. The practice is also found in other Jewish mystical traditions and has influenced various forms of Jewish thought and interpretation. In Arabic, the equivalent practice is known as abjad (أبجد), and in Greek, it is referred to as isopsephy (ισοψηφία).