How does jewish gematria work

jewish gematria is a system of numerology that assigns numerical values to words and phrases derived from the Hebrew alphabet. It is used in the interpretation of Hebrew texts, such as the Scriptures, Talmud and other religious works. This ancient practice has been used for centuries as a tool for gaining greater understanding of religious questions and issues.

In Jewish Gematria each letter of the Hebrew alphabet is assigned a numerical value. These values range from one to nine, with certain exceptions for letters like 'tsadi' which can be considered either a six or a nine, depending on the context. These numerical values are then used to calculate the gematria of any given word or phrase; these calculations are based on adding the individual digits together until they reach a single-figure sum. For example, if someone wanted to find out what the gematria was for the word Jerusalem (ירושלם in Hebrew), they would add up the numerical values of each letter: yud = 10, resh = 200, vav = 6, shin = 300, lamed = 30 and mem = 40; 10 + 200 + 6 + 300 + 30 + 40 = 586.

The principles behind Jewish Gematria allow for words or phrases with similar numeric combinations to be seen as related to one another regardless of their spelling or pronunciation; this allows scholars an extra layer of interpretation when attempting to understand texts from religious sources. It also allows individuals to make important connections between topics that weren't previously known - such as between Jewish holidays or the occurrence of events - by looking at common numerically patterns within those topics. It can also help uncover hidden meanings within phrases by providing insights into alternative interpretations due to meaning being found through shared numerical values among different words or phrases.

Modern day applications of Jewish Gematria include its use in spiritual guidance, which involves interpreting textual sources in order to gain insight into everyday life; as well as its use in talismanic magic whereby specific numerological patterns are believed to impart power on items created bearing that pattern(s).