Note Details
- Stage: soil ✨
- Type: Concept
- Topics: mysticism, numerology
- Gematria is a system of assigning numerical values to letters in an alphabet for the purpose of finding hidden meanings or connections between words and phrases. It is often associated with Jewish mysticism and is used to interpret the Hebrew Bible and other Jewish texts. In gematria, each letter of the Hebrew alphabet is assigned a numerical value, and words and phrases that have the same numerical value are considered to be related in some way. Gematria is also used in other languages and cultures, such as Greek and Arabic, and has been used by scholars and mystics throughout history to uncover hidden meanings in religious and philosophical texts.
- An example of gematria is the Hebrew word “chai,” which means “life.” The word is spelled with the letters “chet” and “yud,” which have the numerical values of 8 and 10, respectively. When added together, the numerical value of “chai” is 18. In Jewish tradition, the number 18 is considered to be a symbol of good luck and is often associated with blessings and prayers for long life. As a result, it is common for Jews to give gifts or make donations in multiples of 18, such as 180, as a way of expressing good wishes and showing respect for the value of life.