what is gematria?

Gematria is an ancient form of numerical interpretation which assigns numeric value to words and phrases. This method of interpretation was developed by Jewish scholars in the Middle Ages and can still be found in Rabbinic literature today. It has also drawn attention from many other faiths, and is often studied for additional insight into scriptures and other forms of written communication.

In Gematria, each letter of the Hebrew alphabet is assigned a numerical value between 1 and 400, beginning with Aleph at 1 and ending with Tav at 400. When words are interpreted, their letters are added together to determine the gematria value of that word or phrase. Different interpretations can then be made based on whether the sum is a prime number, an even or odd number, or some combination thereof. Additionally, assigning different numbers to different letters opens up an entire realm of possibilities for interpreting either individual characters or entire words or phrases.

For instance, when interpreting one of the most famous passages from the Torah - "And G-d said: 'Let there be light'" - one could add up all 28 characters and arrive at a total Gematria value of 880, which is broken down into specific components such as 10 + 6 + 10 + 10 + 14 + 200 + 3 + 8 + 40 = 880; 880/28 = 31.43… These numbers can then be used as symbolic representation towards understanding this phrase in a much deeper way.

Gematria offers an interesting insight into studying texts through alternative methods than those commonly used within traditional studies or literature exams. Not only can it bring greater understanding to those studying scripture or literature itself but it provides authors with an additional layer to their writing allowing them to include even more levels of exploration within their prose. Gematria can also provide writers with insight regarding how particular words or phrases are balanced numerically which could help them choose more potent combinations that may prove helpful when writing in a more poetic fashion than linear prose.

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