What is the origin of gematria?

gematria is a system of assigning numerical value to words or phrases based on their component letters. It has origins in Jewish numerology and has been used in Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism, for centuries. The term "gematria" itself is derived from the Greek word for "geometry," and gematria has been practiced since the early first century.

At its core, gematria is a form of symbolism that assigns spiritual values to words, such as sacred names, prayers and scripture passages. Numeric values are assigned to each Hebrew letter based on their order in the alphabet: Aleph (1), Bet (2), Gimel (3), etc., up through Tav (400). Words are derived by adding up all the numerical values associated with each character; for example, the Hebrew word for "messiah," Mashiach, has a numeric value of 358 as it follows: Mem (40), Shin (300), Yod (10), Chaf (8).

In essence, gematria examines any combination of letters from any language—not just Hebrew—for hidden meaning. Numeric interpretations of words or phrases can then be seen as embodying spiritual truth. For example, one popular interpretation is that the full name of Jesus—יהושע—has a numeric value of 358 which coincides with Mashiach, demonstrating his messianic identity. By understanding how letters correspond to numbers and calculating the resultant value, practitioners can assign spiritual significance to words and phrases from both sacred texts and everyday life alike.

Gematria provides deeper insight into an individual's relationship with God and themselves when tested against ancient wisdom texts such as The Zohar and Sefer Yetzirah. Examining numbers not only gives insight into scriptural passages but also reveals aspects of one's own identity: people's names were traditionally examined gematrically upon birth to gain insight into their character traits. As such, this system is often utilized by religious leaders when seeking guidance in tackling life decisions or important passages from scripture.