Document Outline

Numerology

- Gematria:

The

Mathematics

of the

Torah

The material contained on this site has been prepared by

In Hebrew, each letter possesses a numerical value.
Gematria is the calculation of the numerical equivalence of
letters, words, or phrases, and, on that basis, gaining, insight
into interrelation of different concepts and exploring the
interrelationship between words and ideas.

Here is a basic introduction to Gematria that discusses
different systems for identifying the numerical equivalence
of individual letters, how these letters can be calculated
according to the implicit word-value of their names.

The assumption behind this technique is that numerical
equivalence is not coincidental. Since the world was created
through God's "speech," each letter represents a different
creative force. Thus, the numerical equivalence of two
words reveals an internal connection between the creative
potentials of each one. (see Tanya, Sha'ar HaYichud
VeHaEmunah, chapters 1 and 12.)

There are four ways to calculate equivalence of individual
letters:

●

Absolute Value

●

Ordinal Value

●

Reduced Value

●

Integral Reduced value

The Tikunei Zohar explains that the concept of reduced

value is related to the spiritual world of Yetzirah. On that

basis, a relationship can be established between these four

forms of calculation, the four spiritual realms, and the four

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Hebrew Numerology: Gematria the Mathematics of the Torah

letters of God's name:

Letter

Calculation Form

World

yud

Absolute value

Atzilut

hei

Ordinal value

Beriah

vav

Reduced value

Yetzirah

hei

Integral reduced value

Asiyah

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Numerology -

Gematria

The Mathematics of the Torah

calculating the numerical value of a letter

Numerology

- Gematria:

The

Mathematics

of the

Torah

Absolute Value

Absolute value, (in Hebrew: mispar hechrachi)
also known as Normative value. Each letter is
given the value of its accepted numerical
equivalent alef (the first letter) equals 1, beit (the
second letter) equals 2, and so on. The tenth letter,
yud is numerically equivalent to 10, and
successive letters equal 20, 30, 40, and so on. The
letter kuf near the end of the alphabet, equals 100;
and the last letter, tav equals 400.

n this reckoning, the letters chaf sofiet (final

chaf), mem sofiet, nun sofiet, pei sofiet, and tzadik
sofiet which are the "final forms" of the letters
chaf, mem, nun, pei,and tzadik, used when these
letters conclude a word, generally are given the
same numerical equivalent of the standard form of
the letter. However, sometimes the final chaf is
considered equivalent to 500, the final mem to
600, etc. (see chart below).

Following that alternate form of reckoning, the
Hebrew alphabet is a complete cycle. The final
tzadik equals 900 and thus, the alef equals both
one and one thousand. Indeed, in Hebrew the
same spelling is used for the name of the letter
alef, and elef, meaning "one thousand."

Noting this phenomenon, Rabbi Avraham
Abulafia interprets the verse (Deuteronomy

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32:30): "How can one pursue one thousand!" to
mean: One, the first number, follows after one
thousand in a complete and perfect cycle.

ordinal value

Ordinal value (in Hebrew: mispar siduri) Each of
the 22 letters is given an equivalent from one to
twenty-two. For example, alef equals 1, kaf equals
11, taf = 22. The final kaf equals 23, and final
tzadik equal 27.

reduced value

Reduced value (in Hebrew: mispar katan)
(modulus 9 in mathematical terminology). Each
letter is reduced to a figure of one digit. For
example, in this reckoning, alef equals 1, yud
equals 10, kuf equals 100) would all have a
numerical value of 1; beit equals 2, kaf equals 20,
and reish equals 200 would all have a numerical
value of 2, and so on. Thus, the letters have only
nine equivalents, rather than twenty-two.

In both the Ordinal and Reduced reckonings, the
five letters whose form changes when they
conclude a word are generally equivalent to their
value when they appear within a word. However,
they are sometimes given an independent value.
For example, the ordinal value of the final nun is
at times considered 14, and is at times, 25.
Similarly, its reduced value is at times 5, and at
other times, 7.

integral reduced value

The fourth manner of reckoning, Integral Reduced
value (mispar katan mispari). Here, the total
numerical value of a word is reduced to one digit.
Should the sum of these numbers exceed 9, the
integer values of the total are repeatedly added to
each other to produce a single-digit figure. The

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same value will be arrived at regardless of
whether it is the absolute values, the ordinal
values, or the reduced values that are being
counted.

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The material contained on this site has been prepared by

gal

einai institute

, a United States non-profit organization

dedicated to disseminating and implementing the inner

wisdom of the Torah--Kabbalah and Chassidut--as taken from

the teachings of

rabbi yitzchak ginsburgh

reserved

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Hebrew Numerology: Letter Filling

Numerology - Gematria

The Mathematics of the Torah

letter filling

Numerology

- Gematria:

The

Mathematics

of the

Torah

At times, the numerical value of a letter or word is given using another technique known as milui
("filling"; pl., miluim). Here, not only are the letters given numerical equivalents, they are
considered complete words. In such cases, the letters used to spell out the main letter are
considered to be "pregnant" within it.

For example, the word chen is made up of two letters: chet, nun. The letter chet itself is spelled:
chet, yud, tav equals 418. Nun is spelled: nun, vav, nun equals 106. Thus, the value of chen with
its milui is 524.

In this context, we must add that certain letters have more than one possible milui. For example,
the letter hei can be spelled: hei, yud; hei hei; or hei, alef, arriving at equivalents of 6, 10, or 15
respectively. Similarly, the letter vav can be spelled: vav, yud, vav; vav, alef, vav; or vav, vav, with
equivalents of 12, 13, and 22 respectively.

It must be emphasized that these different calculations are not mere mathematical exercises.
Rather each different numerical equivalent represents a different aspect of Divine influence.

The most classic use of these alternate miluim is with regard to Divine Name Havayah (spelled:
yud, hei, vav, hei). The gematria of the letters themselves is 26. However, with the milui, different
figures are reached dependent on how the vav and hei are spelled.

Following are the principal miluim of the Name Havayah discussed in Kabbalah:

Havayah of 72

Havayah of 63

Havayah of 45

Havayah of 52

yud yud, vav, dalet

=20 yud, vav, dalet

=20

hei

hei, yud

=15 hei, yud

=15 hei, alef

hei, hei

=10

vav vav, yud, vav

=22 vav, alef, vav

=13 vav, alef, vav

=13 vav, vav

=12

hei

hei, yud

=15 hei, yud

=15 hei, alef

hei, hei

=10

total milui

=72 total milui

=63 total milui

=45 total milui

=52

These four sums, 72, 63, 45, 52, correspond themselves to the four letters of God's name Havayah
(and the ten sefirot) as follows:

Letter of Havayah

Havayah of:

The Ten Sefirot

yud

Chochmah

Insight, wisdom

hei

Binah

Understanding

vav

chesed to Yesod

The Emotional Attributes

hei

malchut

Kingship

Each of the letters hei, vav, hei of the Name Havayah possesses three variant spellings. Thus,
there are 27 (3 to the 3rd) possible miluim of Holy Name. There are thirteen possible numerical
equivalents ranging from 44 to 72, with a midpoint of 58 (= chen). When added together, the total
of all the miluim is 1521, which equals 39 squared. Thirty-nine is the numerical equivalent of
Hashem Echad ("God is One").

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Hebrew Numerology: Letter Filling

The four forms of the Name Havayah cited above are considered to be the most essential forms
and each correspond to a different letter of God's name, as above. When their sum, 232, is divided
by four, the number 58 (= chen) is again reached. Similarly, 232 is numerically equivalent to yehi
or ("Let there be light"), the first of the utterances of Creation.

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The material contained on this site has been prepared by

gal einai institute

, a United

States non-profit organization dedicated to disseminating and implementing the inner

wisdom of the Torah--Kabbalah and Chassidut--as taken from the teachings of

rabbi

yitzchak ginsburgh

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Hebrew Numerology: Examples

Numerology -

Gematria

The Mathematics of the Torah

examples

Numerology

- Gematria:

The

Mathematics

of the

Torah