How does gematria work?

gematria is an ancient Jewish system of numerical symbolism and interconnected numerical values, originally practiced in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages. Gematria is based on a simple premise: the numerical characters and words correspond to one another in an intricate way. By substituting numbers for the alphabet, complicated meanings and relationships can be discovered that explain underlying truths of religious concepts and words.

In the most basic form of Gematria, letters are replaced with numbers based on their position in the alphabet—A=1, B=2, C=3, etc.—and then added together. This produces a single digit number which corresponds to a certain spiritual meaning. For example, "Light" equals 32 in gematria because L (12) + I (9) + G (7) + H (4) = 32. In other forms of gematria, two-digit combinations of letters known as "permutations" are formed with numbers representing a counterpart which is used to decode deeper meanings.

Using gematria can allow for an insight into various religious texts and works that shed light on both history and current life. A major tenet of kabbalah acknowledges the unifying energy of words not just as sounds but also as vibrations or frequencies that each hold unique power or significance.. This concept is seen as a way to grapple with life questions by forming powerful expressions about our experiences in order to access rich understanding about life itself. This ability to bring greater awareness has been used throughout Judaic history because it taps into hidden knowledge not exclusively accessible through language alone.

Gematria has also been applied to Torah literature by Jewish scholars in order to broaden their interpretations beyond what literal words may provide—especially when deemed sacred or deeply spiritual texts require such careful analysis. Gematria allows us an alternative pathway into these texts that goes beyond conventional comprehension.