What Is Gematria?
Gematria is an alphanumeric coding system that assigns numerical values to letters and words in the Hebrew alphabet. It's used in Jewish culture to explore deeper connections between words and texts, for example in religious documents like the Torah.
The practice of assigning numerical values to letters has ancient roots. Similar coding systems have been used by the Greeks (isopsephy), Arabic civilizations (abjad), and English cultures (modern English gematria).
What Is the Gematria Calculator?
The Gematria Calculator is an online numerology calculator that returns a numerical value for a word, phrase, or name. It works with Hebrew (Jewish gematria), English Qaballa text, the modern English alphabet, and Greek (isopsephy).
For more detailed calculations, see the Gematria Code website.
How to Use the Gematria Calculator
Type words, letters, or a name in the box above to see the gematria value. Use the options to switch between systems:
- Transliterated Hebrew: Hebrew values using English letters.
- English Qaballa: An English cipher based on a specific sequence.
- English Simple: A=1, B=2, C=3, and so on up to Z=26.
- Hebrew: Traditional gematria using Hebrew script.
- Greek: Greek letter values, also known as isopsephy.
Why Is Gematria Useful?
Gematria is most commonly used within Jewish culture to explore the spiritual meaning of a religious text. In some historical contexts, gematria was used to embed numerical relationships in texts and invite readers to notice patterns between words. The interpretation of gematria depends on a person's beliefs and traditions.
An example of gematria is the word Hebrew word "chai" (חי), which means "alive". In the mispar hechrachi (standard) variation of gematria, "chai" has a numerical value of 18. As a result, 18 is a lucky number for many Jewish people.
What Is the Difference Between Numerology and Gematria?
Numerology is the practice of assigning symbolic or spiritual meaning to particular numbers. An example is the study of numbers in scripture such as the twelve disciples, twelve tribes of Israel, and the seven days of creation.
The difference between numerology and gematria is that gematria assigns numerical values to letters and words in Hebrew to uncover patterns or deeper meanings within a text. Numerology, by contrast, focuses on the symbolic meaning of the numbers themselves.
Thanks to Bethsheba Ashe for her guidance on Hebrew transliteration.
Related Links
- Abjad Calculator: Calculate the value of Arabic words and phrases in abjad numerology.