Gematria

Each letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a corresponding number (see post on Hebrew Letters). By adding up the letters in a word we are able to derive a number which is meaningful.

Build your own number dictionary of sorts to track which words share a number, or consult a gematria index. By comparing words that share a number we are able to make connections and gain a deeper understanding below the surface level.

Below is an example of applying Gematria to the first word from the book of Genesis: Berashith (meaning roughly “a beginning”).

Berashith is spelled with the following Hebrew letters;

Beth-Yod-Resh-Aleph-Shin-Tav.

To get the numerical value of the word Berashith we will add up the numerical values of the individual letters.

2 - Beth

10 - Yod

200 - Resh

1 - Aleph

300 - Shin

400 - Tav

Sum totals to 913.

What does that mean? What other words sum to 913? Check it out for yourself! Do the work!

.

.

.

Don’t forget. All is maybe. But this might be a funner existence.