how gematria works

Gematria is an ancient system of numerology that assigns a numerical value to each letter in the Hebrew alphabet. The purpose of this system is to convert a word or phrase into a numerical value, which can then be used to interpret various spiritual meanings.

The origin of gematria dates back to ancient times, when the Hebrew alphabet was first used. According to tradition, each letter holds both spiritual and mathematical properties, which are expressed in gematria by assigning each letter with a specific number—the sum of all the letters being equal to the numerical value of the word or phrase. Gematria can be seen as a type of numerology, wherein numbers are assigned symbolic meanings and interpreted for divinatory purposes.

There are several different approaches that can be taken when interpreting gematria values. The most common approach involves assigning a spiritual meaning based on the numerical total of a word or phrase; for example, words or phrases with a similar numerical value may represent related concepts or ideas. For example, 'war' and 'peace' have a similar total in gematria (402).

In addition to assigning spiritual significance to numbers, gematria can also be used for practical reasons such as identifying words with similar sounds but different spellings; thus preserving information without confusion. For instance, many names have similar spellings which distract from the original pronunciation but can easily be identified using gematria; Abraham and Avraham have different spellings but yield identical totals in gematria (248).

In terms of its influence on day-to-day life; Gematria remains popular among certain aspects of Judaism where it is used for interpretation and commentary on texts such as the Bible. Even today, gematria values specific words are commonly used during sermons and lectures by religious authorities looking for deeper meaning in their teachings - with some more well known examples being 'abracadabra' (313) and 'shalom' (364).

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