What is Gematria

 Gematria is a system of assigning numerical values to letters of an alphabet, typically for the purpose of associating words or phrases with specific numerical values. It is often used in various mystical or esoteric traditions, particularly in Jewish Kabbalah and some forms of numerology. The most well-known form of Gematria is found in the Hebrew language.

In Hebrew Gematria, each letter of the Hebrew alphabet is associated with a numerical value. For example:

• - Aleph (א) = 1
• - Bet (ב) = 2
• - Gimel (ג) = 3
• - Dalet (ד) = 4

or 

 A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5, F=6, G=7, H=8, I=9, J=10, K=11, L=12, M=13, N=14, O=15, P=16, Q=17, R=18, S=19, T=20, U=21, V=22, W=23, X=24, Y=25, Z=26.

- And so on, with each subsequent letter corresponding to the next whole number.

Words and phrases in Hebrew can be analyzed by summing the numerical values of their constituent letters. The belief is that words or phrases with the same numerical value may have significant connections or shared meanings.

Kabbalists and mystics have used Gematria to explore the hidden meanings of religious texts, to find connections between words and concepts, and to seek insights into the divine. It's important to note that Gematria is often considered more of a symbolic or mystical practice rather than a scientifically validated method of analysis.

There are different forms of Gematria in various languages, and the specific letter-to-number correspondence may vary. Other cultures and languages, including Greek and Latin, have their own systems of letter-based numerology, but the term "Gematria" is most commonly associated with Hebrew letter-number assignments.