What is gematria?
Gematria is the Jewish tradition of assigning numerical values to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, so that words and phrases carry numbers — and words with equal values are seen as meaningfully connected. Since each of the 22 Hebrew letters has a value (aleph = 1, bet = 2, and so on), any word can be "added up," and much of gematria explores the links those sums reveal. It's a centuries-old interpretive lens, beloved for the surprising connections it surfaces in the text.
How does gematria work?
- Each Hebrew letter has a numerical value (aleph = 1 through tav = 400).
- A word's value is the sum of its letters.
- Two words with the same value are often read as related in meaning — a hint, not a proof.
A famous example: the word chai (חי, "life") equals 18, which is why 18 — and multiples of it — is a traditional number for charitable gifts.
How is gematria used in learning?
Gematria appears throughout Jewish texts as a way to draw out hidden connections, deepen a teaching, or add a memorable layer to an idea. It's best understood as an interpretive and inspirational tool — a way of noticing resonance in the language — rather than a system for prediction. Many learners enjoy it as a delightful entry point into the Hebrew of the text.
In short: gematria assigns number values to Hebrew letters and finds meaning in words that share a value — a classic interpretive lens, like chai = 18 = life.
Explore gematria with Derekh Learning
Derekh includes daily gematria and Hebrew-word tools alongside its lessons, in a voice that fits you. Start learning or read how to learn Torah without Hebrew.
