Hebrew numerology is called gematria
The traditional Hebrew system of assigning numbers to letters is called gematria. The relationship between Kabbalah and numerology is that gematria is one of the interpretive tools Kabbalists use to find connections within the Torah. It is older than Kabbalah itself and appears in rabbinic literature, but Kabbalistic writers developed it extensively.
The word is usually thought to come from Greek, possibly related to “geometria,” though its exact origin is debated.
How letter values work
In Hebrew, letters have always doubled as numerals. In the standard system:
- The first nine letters (Aleph through Tet) are 1 to 9.
- The next nine (Yod through Tzadi) are 10 to 90.
- The remaining letters are 100, 200, 300 and 400 (Qof, Resh, Shin, Tav).
A word’s value is the sum of its letters. Words with the same total are considered to be linked in some way, and the link is then explored through interpretation.
Examples
- Chai (“life”) is spelled Chet (8) and Yod (10), totaling 18. This is why gifts of money in Jewish culture are often given in multiples of 18.
- Echad (“one”) adds up to 13, which is also the value of ahavah (“love”). Teachers often point to this match.
These are well-known examples, but the interpretation attached to a match is a matter of teaching and tradition, not mathematics.
Other methods
Gematria is one of several techniques used by Kabbalists:
- Notarikon treats words as acronyms or breaks them into parts.
- Temurah swaps letters according to set patterns.
These methods are discussed in connection with the Hebrew letters in Sefer Yetzirah, the early text on creation through letters.
Kabbalah versus modern numerology
Modern Western numerology is a different system. It generally traces to Pythagorean ideas and reduces numbers to single digits, assigning character traits to each. Many websites sell “Kabbalah numerology” readings that mix the Hebrew alphabet with this single-digit approach and with birth-date calculations. Traditional gematria does not predict personality or fortune. It is an interpretive practice applied to texts. Treat commercial readings accordingly. Our article on Kabbalah Principles and Rules addresses other popular claims that don’t come from classical sources.
Karmic numbers
Searches for “karmic numbers” usually refer to modern numerology, in which certain numbers (commonly 13, 14, 16 and 19) are called karmic debt numbers. That is a modern Western concept and not from Kabbalah. See Which birth date are karmic numbers?
Cautions
- Numerology should not guide major life, medical or financial decisions.
- Some Jewish authorities have taken a dim view of predicting the future with letters and numbers.
- Whether and by whom Kabbalistic methods should be studied is discussed in Is Kabbalah a Closed Practice?
For the larger tradition, see Kabbalah Explained.