Jewish Gematria
Jewish Gematria is based on the traditional Hebrew alphanumeric system, where each letter is assigned a specific numerical value. This system has been used for thousands of years in Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah to find hidden meanings in texts.
Jewish Gematria Alphabet
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Enter a word or phrase to calculate its Jewish gematria value:
Examples
History of Jewish Gematria
Jewish Gematria, also known as Mispar, has ancient origins dating back over 2,500 years. It emerged during the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE) and was fully established by the Talmudic period (1st-5th centuries CE). Unlike later systems, Jewish Gematria developed organically as Hebrew letters naturally served as both alphabet and numbers in ancient Jewish culture.
The system gained prominence in Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism that flourished in medieval Spain. Kabbalists used gematria extensively to decode hidden meanings in the Torah, believing that numerical equivalences revealed divine connections between seemingly unrelated concepts. The foundational text of Kabbalah, the Zohar (13th century), contains numerous examples of gematric interpretations.
Notable Jewish scholars who advanced gematria include Abraham Abulafia (13th century), who developed complex systems of letter permutation, and the Maharal of Prague (16th century), who incorporated gematria into his philosophical works. The Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidic Judaism (18th century), further popularized gematria as a tool for spiritual insight.
Today, Jewish Gematria remains integral to Jewish hermeneutics and mystical practice. Orthodox scholars continue to use it for Torah interpretation, and its principles have influenced various modern numerological systems. The system's enduring legacy speaks to its profound cultural and spiritual significance in Jewish tradition.