Hebrew Gematria: Basic Systems.

Gematria is a philosophical, esoteric and cultural Hebrew product. In it, each letter of the Hebrew alphabet has an associated numerical value, which can change depending on the system used, existing (according to the Kabbalah) more than three hundred different paths.

Gematria should not be confused with numerology, nor with sacred geometry, although they are apparently related. Numerology gives "esoteric or cosmic mathematical values" to numbers, but gematria gives them an interpretation, a symbolism in relation to the letters, making it impossible to separate it from the sacred Hebrew texts, as well as from Yefer Yestzirah, a text from the 2nd century that is considered to establish the principles of gematria. However, both draw on Sumerian and Greek mathematical studies (it is believed that gematria as such began in the time of the Second Temple, 515 BC-70 AD, because the Greeks recorded numbers with the letters by position, which is called isopsephy). Gematria remained linked to the Hebrew people, while Western numerology developed among Greeks, Gnostics, Arabs and all of Christian Europe, and over time it has even selected what interests it from gematria, depending on its interests (explanation of the connection between living beings and the universe, divine descriptions, or architectural calculations).

As for sacred geometry, although some philologists have tried to find the same root in geometr- and gematr-, the confusion comes from their applications in the dimensions of the Kabbalah and the sefirot, although gematria itself does not touch anything related to a geometric measurement or form (except in its direct applications to said models, which we will not see in this article).

Having clarified this, the justification of the union between gematria and Hebrew texts is defended by the existence of very specific numerical values, which seem to have a hidden meaning that, in itself, coincides with the narrative where it takes place. This has also been extrapolated to current proper names, or even to the magical use of apparently random words, but whose hidden meaning can only be extracted from the gematria used by its creator.

All this is best analyzed through examples, with which we will take advantage to explain some of the most used methods. Of course, in order to use gematria, it is necessary to know a little Hebrew, or at least to have a good repertoire of lists of gematric correspondences, a task in which the Internet has been of great help.

Before starting, it should be noted that even among the Kabbalists or Hebrews themselves there are disputes about the logic followed and the conclusions of gematria. Both scholars and ordinary people are divided between the spiritual acceptance of symbolism and the infinite variety of possibilities, and therefore, of inaccuracies and inventions. However, on an esoteric and magical level, gematria has an indisputable versatility of use.

Which of all the systems offers a more correct hidden meaning is simply a matter of point of view and interpretation.

Let us now look at the different systems, from the most common and purist to the most controversial.

•The first system is the classical one. Associate a number with each letter, from 1 to 10, then by tens and then by hundreds, up to 400. This is the simplest system of all. Take the number of each letter and add them together, and find the value of the resulting number by adding them together.

1 Aleph א

2 Bet ב

3 Gimel ג

4 Daleth ד

5 Heh ה

6 Vav ו

7 Zayin ז

8 Het ח

9 Tet ט

10 Yud י

20 Kaf כ

30 Lamed ל

40 Mem מ

50 Nun נ

60 Samech ס

70 Ayin ע

80 Peh פ

90 Tzady צ

100 Koof ק

200 Reish ר

300 Shin ש

400 Taf ת

The most common example in this case is the name of Eliezer, Abraham's servant. His number, changing the letters (אליעזר), would be 318. In Genesis 14:14 it is said that Abraham went out to fight with his 318 servants. Why such an exact number? Apparently, it is a way of saying that he went out to fight with Eliezer, but in addition, 318 has other meanings, such as "God helps", "family, inheritance" - implying that they were his heirs -, "to speak" - that is, he took Eliezer because he had a gift for diplomacy; or even, for Christian gematrists, that it was a future spiritual fight, since 318 could also be associated with the "cross" of Christ.

Another example could be Satan (השטן), the adversary, whose number 364, would refer to his reign during all the days of the year except one. Likewise, 364 coincides with the value of the Hebrew word for Son of Light, a name in relation to the one given to him by Saint Jerome in his translation into Latin, when speaking of the fallen Lucifer: Lucifer.

It also occurs with names of peoples, such as the Amalekites. Amalek (עמלק) corresponds in gematria to the number 240, a number that also equates to the Hebrew word "coward", "dissolution", "doubt" and "guilty" - because they separated from the Hebrews doubting God - as well as "massacre" - because they were violent, but were defeated by Saul -, etc.

•The Mispar Mussafi method adds the number resulting from standard gematria with the number of letters in the word. For example, חכמה, Chokmâh, Wisdom, which is also the second of the sefirot, adds up to 73 with the classical method. The number 73 in gematria dictionaries has, among others, the meaning of praying, following a purpose, gift, reward, wrapping and unwrapping, Adam Qadmon and "Ear of Yahweh". But if we use the Mispar Mussafi method, then we will have to add 73 + 4 (the 4 letters of חכמה), and its number will be 77, with the hidden meanings of Tower, "Yahweh builds", strength, multitude, bond, among others.

•The Mispar Gadol method does not count the number of letters, but it does take into account the five final letters, that is, 5 letters of the Hebrew alphabet when they fall in the last position and are pronounced differently, thus changing some meanings substantially.

500 Kaf (final) ך

600 Mem (final) ם

700 Nun (final) ן

800 Peh (final) ף

900 Tzady (final) ץ

For example, Shalom (שׁלום, greeting of peace) with the classical method adds up to 376, so its hidden meaning coincides with the sum of the name Tzipporah, Moses' wife, which can mean, among other things, bird and crown; or Yeshua (ישוע, Jesus), that is, for Christians, Salvation, as well as other meanings such as "forever."

But, following Mispar Gadol, it would add up to 976, which coincides with the gematria of Israel. Also with "Hashem hameforash", the tannaitic and kabbalistic form that is "The Explicit Name" of God.

• The Mispar Katan method has two variants. Its main characteristic is that it eliminates the zeros from its numbers. In the first variant, the zeros are eliminated BEFORE adding them. For practical purposes, it is easier if the letters are enumerated in groups of nine. For example:

1 Aleph א

2 Bet ב

3 Gimel ג

4 Daleth ד

5 Heh ה

6 Vav ו

7 Zayin ז

8 Het ח

9 Tet ט

1 Yud י

2 Kaf כ

3 Lamed ל

4 Mem מ

5 Nun נ

6 Samech ס

7 Ayin ע

8 Peh פ

9 Tzady צ

1 Koof ק

2 Reish ר

3 Shin ש

4 Taf ת

5 Kaf (end) ך

6 Mem (end) ם

7 Nun (end) ן

8 Peh (end) ף

9 Tzady (end) ץ

Gematria Classical: Yhvh יהוה‎ is 5+6+5+10 =26

Mispar Katan (variant 1): 5+6+5+10 = 5+6+5+1 =17.

For some gematras the "tens" must also be eliminated, that is, if the result is greater than 9, the numbers must be added, therefore:

Mispar Katan (variant 2): 5+6+5+10 = 5+6+5+1 =17 = 1+7 =8.

However, this second system greatly limits the possible meanings, so that it is only used as an addition to certain specific words.

•AtBash method. Basically, it consists of changing the value of the letter to that of its opposite. Alef for Tav, Bet for Shin, Gomel for Reish, etc. Normally it is done with the inverted numbering of the classical system, but there is much controversy about it, and the examples used are usually specific models taken from Genesis or Exodus, in which other values ​​are also taken into account, such as priestly positions, number of letters and words, etc.

Continuing with the previous example, we would have that in classical Gematria: Yhvh יהוה‎ is 5+6+5+10 =26. But if we perform AtBash, יהוה‎ is מצפצ.

So, adding the new letters we have 90+80+90+40 = 300, which coincidentally coincides with the values ​​of "breath of God" or "circumcision."

•The Mispar HaKadmi method is related to the Mispar Gadol, but by adding the classical values ​​of the preceding letters (instead of the number of letters). Each letter then has a different value. Aleph is 1, but Bet will be 3 (its classical value 2 + classical value of Aleph 1). The main problem is that very high numbers are obtained which often do not even appear in gematric dictionaries.

1 Aleph א

3 Bet ב

6 Gimel ג

10 Daleth ד

15 Heh ה

21 Vav ו

28 Zayin ז

36 Het ח

45 Tet ט

55 Yud י

75 Kaf כ

105 Lamed ל

145 Mem מ

195 Nun נ

255 Samech ס

325 Ayin ע

405 Peh פ

495 Tzady צ

595 Koof ק

795 Reish ר

1095 Shin ש

1495 Taf ת

For example, Korban (קורבן), the Passover sacrifice, would be 195 (nun at end) + 3 + 795 + 21 + 595 = 1609, whose meaning in gematria coincides with that of the flesh of circumcision, or altar songs. But in many dictionaries, there are no references for this result.

• The Mispar Shemi, Mispar Haperati and Mispar Hakellati methods have the same problem as the previous one.

Mispar Shemi attributes to the letters the value that their names have in the Talmud. That is, it does not calculate with the letters, but with the Talmudic number of their names. Aleph would not be א, but אלף, taking the value of each letter, that is, 80+30+1 = 111. Analyzing long words or even paragraphs becomes a real madness of interpretation.

Mispar Haperati, on the other hand, squares the value of the letters. Aleph is 1×1=1, Bet is 2×2=4... These calculations result in very large numbers. The last letter, Taf ת, reaches the value of 160,000!

The Hakellati method is similar, except that instead of multiplying the numbers by themselves, it multiplies the result. For example, if in classical Gematria: Yhvh יהוה‎ is 5+6+5+10 =26, with the Hakellati method it would be 26×26 = 676. The larger the result, the greater the complexity.

As has been seen throughout the exposition, gematria can be considered by Judeo-Christians as a science that reveals hidden meanings by God in words, however, it cannot be denied that on more than one occasion there is a tendency towards chance and coincidence, towards personal and spiritual interpretation. Furthermore, however divine it may be considered, it cannot be denied that its multiple systems are the product of continuous human rethinking.

All this does not take away from its magic or mystery. Today, people continue to learn and perform biblical gematria, but it is also done with dates or names. The latter is very common among ordinary people, and is often mixed with numerology and the original meaning of names from ancient or unknown languages. In the profane world, gematria is simply considered a form of encryption.

Pietro V. Carracedo Ahumada - pietrocarracedo@gmail.com

Bibliography:

-Berg, Philip S.; Berg, Rav. The energy of Hebrew letters. Kabbalah Pub. 2010.

-Glazerson, M. Abraham Ibn Ezra and the rise of medieval Hebrew science. Jason Aronson INC, 1996

-Gura, N. Divine Wisdom and Warning: decoded messages from God. Rowman & Littlefield, 2015.

- Shela, S. Abraham Ibn Ezra and the rise of medieval Hebrew science. Brill, 2003

Related articles:

> Jewish Kabbalah: an introduction.

> Correspondence of the Sefirot

> Jewish medieval magic (I). Context and sacred writing