Gematria

What Is Gematria?

Gematria is the Hebrew practice of assigning numerical value to words based on the sum of their letters. Each Hebrew letter has a number:

Letter	Name	Value
א	Aleph	1
ב	Bet	2
ג	Gimel	3
ד	Dalet	4
ה	Hey	5
ו	Vav	6
ז	Zayin	7
ח	Chet	8
ט	Tet	9
י	Yod	10
כ	Kaf	20
ל	Lamed	30
מ	Mem	40
נ	Nun	50
ס	Samech	60
ע	Ayin	70
פ	Pey	80
צ	Tzadi	90
ק	Kof	100
ר	Resh	200
ש	Shin	300
ת	Tav	400

Historical Use

Jewish rabbis have used gematria for millennia to find connections between words that share the same numerical value. Early Christian writers also noticed these patterns in Scripture. While not a basis for doctrine, gematria can illuminate meaning and reveal beautiful layers in God's Word.

Devotional, Not Doctrinal

Important caution: Gematria is devotional, not doctrinal.

We use gematria to:

Illuminate existing Biblical truth
Find beautiful connections that deepen worship
Add layers of meaning to Scripture we already know

We do NOT use gematria to:

Build new doctrine from numerical patterns alone
Override the plain meaning of Scripture
Find secret codes or predict the future

The Bible warns against speculations that distract from the main thing: knowing Jesus and becoming like Him.

Examples

Emet (אמת) — Truth

Aleph (א) = 1
Mem (מ) = 40
Tav (ת) = 400
Total: 441

In Hebrew thinking, truth is complete only when it includes Aleph (God) at the beginning and Tav (the cross) at the end.

Elohim (אלהים) — God

Aleph (א) = 1
Lamed (ל) = 30
Hey (ה) = 5
Yod (י) = 10
Mem (ם) = 40 (final Mem = 40)
Total: 86

HaSatan (השטן) — The Adversary

Hey (ה) = 5
Shin (ש) = 300
Tet (ט) = 9
Nun (ן) = 50 (final Nun = 50)
Total: 364

One less than 365 — the number of days in a year. A reminder that the enemy attacks daily, but God's grace covers every day.

Gematria ​

What Is Gematria? ​

Historical Use ​

Devotional, Not Doctrinal ​

Examples ​

Emet (אמת) — Truth ​

Elohim (אלהים) — God ​

HaSatan (השטן) — The Adversary ​

Further Reading ​