Gematria
Gematria refers to the Hebrew practice of giving numerical values to the words of scripture and finding the symbolic meaning from them.
Both Hebrew and Greek used the letters of the alphabet as numbers. For Example, TOE (tau, omicron, epsilon) in Greek would be the number 375.
| Number |
Hebrew |
Hebrew |
Greek |
Greek |
| 1 |
א |
Alef |
Α α |
Alpha |
| 2 |
ב |
Bet |
Β β |
Beta |
| 3 |
ג |
Gimel |
Γ γ |
Gamma |
| 4 |
ד |
Dalet |
Δ δ |
Delta |
| 5 |
ה |
He |
Ε ε |
Epsilon |
| 6 |
ו |
Vav |
Ϝ ϝ or Ϛ ϛ |
Digamma or Stigma |
| 7 |
ז |
Zayen |
Ζ ζ |
Zeta |
| 8 |
ח |
Het |
Η η |
Eta |
| 9 |
ט |
Tet |
Θ θ |
Theta |
| 10 |
י |
Yod |
Ι ι |
Iota |
| 20 |
כ |
Kaf |
Κ κ |
Kappa |
| 30 |
ל |
Lamed |
Λ λ |
Lambda |
| 40 |
מ |
Mem |
Μ μ |
Mu |
| 50 |
נ |
Nun |
Ν ν |
Nu |
| 60 |
ס |
Samekh |
Ξ ξ |
Xi |
| 70 |
ע |
Ayin |
Ο ο |
Omicron |
| 80 |
פ |
Pe |
Π π |
Pi |
| 90 |
צ |
Tsadi |
Ϟ ϟ or Ϙ ϙ |
Koppa or Qoppa |
| 100 |
ק |
Qof |
Ρ ρ |
Rho |
| 200 |
ר |
Resh |
Σ σ |
Sigma |
| 300 |
ש |
Shin |
Τ τ |
Tau |
| 400 |
ת |
Tav |
Υ υ |
Upsilon |
| 500 |
ך |
Final Kaf |
Φ φ |
Phi |
| 600 |
ם |
Final Mem |
Χ χ |
Chi |
| 700 |
ן |
Final Nun |
Ψ ψ |
Psi |
| 800 |
ף |
Final Pe |
Ω ω |
Omega |
| 900 |
ץ |
Final Tsadi |
Ϡ ϡ |
Sampi |
Here are some of the symbolic meanings for numbers.
Numbers can be combined by multiplication (or less often by adding) to combine the meanings. Subtraction or division weakens or does the opposite to the combined meaning. Doubling, repeating, squaring, and multiplying by 10, 100, or 1000 adds power or emphasis. Dividing by 2 or 3 lessens or reverses the meaning.
| Number |
Hebrew meaning (deMille) |
Greek meaning (Schneider) |
Scriptural (Gaskill) |
| 1 |
perfection |
unity, wholeness |
God, unity |
| 2 |
family |
relationship, opposition |
division, separation |
| 3 |
perfect direction, religion |
exploration of meaning |
Godhead |
| 4 |
physical geography, temporal world |
earth, this life |
geographic completeness, entire earth |
| 5 |
covenant |
symmetry, life |
God's grace, fallen man |
| 6 |
strength |
structure, order |
imperfection, evil |
| 7 |
leadership, governance |
separation of basic/advanced |
perfection, completeness |
| 8 |
completion |
renewal |
resurrection, rebirth |
| 9 |
new beginning |
future |
judgement, finality |
| 10 |
power |
end of number, beginning of infinity |
complete unit within a greater whole |
Add up the numeric values for the letters in a word. e.g. JOHN
In English gematria (you can figure out the values easily enough), J=10, O=60, H=8, N=50. 10+60+8+50=128. This is an important number in my profession, computer science. 128 is 2^7, or in binary 10000000.
This has all the scientific rigor of fortune telling. But it's math and it's fun, so who cares?
Can you find symbolism in your name?
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