Kabbalistic Gematria

Kabbalistic gematria (Hebrew: גימטריה קבלאית, gimatria qabbalit) is a form of Jewish mysticism that focuses on the numerical values of letters in the Hebrew alphabet to derive hidden meanings and connections within religious texts, particularly the Torah. This practice is rooted in the broader tradition of gematria (Hebrew: גימטריה, gimatria), which involves the numerical calculation of words and phrases to uncover hidden insights. Kabbalistic gematria is often associated with the Zohar and other mystical texts, where it is used to explore the divine names, the structure of creation, and the interplay between the physical and spiritual realms. In Kabbalistic thought, each letter of the Hebrew alphabet is assigned a numerical value, and these values are used to find correspondences and symbolic meanings in sacred texts. This practice is also known as notarikon (Hebrew: נוטריקון, notarikon) when it involves the interpretation of acronyms or abbreviations. The term gematria is derived from the Greek word geometria, meaning "geometry," reflecting the mathematical nature of the practice. In Arabic, the concept is sometimes referred to as jafr (جفر), which also involves numerical analysis of letters and words.