Can words be numbers? Exploring the ancient practice of gematria

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Gematria is the practice of assigning numerical values to letters to uncover hidden connections between words. While often associated with Jewish mysticism, this system of alphanumeric ciphers has roots in ancient Greek and Assyrian traditions, offering a unique lens through which scholars and theologians have interpreted sacred texts for centuries.

The practice of gematria involves reading words and phrases as numbers rather than phonetic units. By assigning specific values to letters, practitioners can compare different terms that share the same sum, revealing potential symbolic links. For example, in Hebrew, the word for 'wine' (yayin) and 'secret' (sod) both equal 70, a correspondence noted in the Babylonian Talmud. This method is not merely a curiosity; it is one of the 32 hermeneutical rules recognized by the Rabbis of the Talmud for interpreting the Torah.

While gematria is central to Kabbalah and Rabbinic literature, it is not mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Its origins are ancient and diverse. The earliest documented instance is an 8th-century BCE Assyrian inscription where Sargon II built a wall 16,283 cubits long to match the numerical value of his name. In the Greek world, this practice was known as isopsephy, a component of Pythagoreanism dating back to the 6th century BCE. The Milesian system of using letters as numerals became widespread during the Hellenistic period, eventually influencing various cultures and languages.

Critics have long questioned the validity of these calculations. In the 5th century, the philosopher Proclus cited the Neoplatonist Iamblichus, who argued that gematria is inherently flexible. Because letters change form over time and one can employ various mathematical operations—addition, multiplication, or ratios—it is possible to manipulate almost any word to produce a desired number. Despite these critiques, the practice persists, appearing in diverse contexts from the interpretation of the 'number of the Beast' in Revelation to the use of the number 786 in Islamic folk magic.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Hebrew numerals turn the alphabet into a calculator using an ancient additive system.
• The ancient manual that claims the universe was built from letters and numbers
• Before Arabic digits, the Greeks used their own alphabet to calculate the cosmos.
• Why ancient writers chose between words and symbols for the same number
• The hidden architecture of the universe is written in Hebrew letters
• The mysterious monk who founded the world's first international religious order
• A cardinal who lived in poverty while wielding the absolute power of the Spanish state.
• The Ginza Rabba is a sacred treasury of Mandaean wisdom with mysterious, debated origins.
• The frail Italian immigrant who became America's first canonized saint by defying the Vatican
• Why the title Father for God carries vastly different meanings across the world's faiths
• The five solae are the core pillars of Protestant theology, but were they always five?
• Why the title God the Son is a theological development rather than biblical scripture

More in Abrahamic religions · More in Ideas & Philosophy · Latest · A–Z · All topics