What is gematria?

gematria is an ancient system of assigning numerical values to letters, words and phrases in order to interpret their underlying meanings. It is based on the ancient Hebrew alphabet, which assigns a numerical value to each letter of the alphabet. Gematria has been used for centuries to uncover hidden information contained within the sacred texts of Judaism and Christianity.

Gematria is thought to have originated in Babylon sometime between 3,000 and 6,000 BC. The words "gematria" and "gimatria" are derived from the Greek work "geomatria" which roughly translates as "earth-measuring". This attribute may have been seen as symbolic of the divine mysteries being revealed through numerical symbols.

Gematria was widely used during medieval times by renowned kabbalists such as Rabbi Abraham Abulafia and Rabbi Isaac Luria who used it to uncover hidden information contained within traditional Jewish texts such as the Zohar, Talmud, Midrash and Bible. By assigning numerical values to Hebrew words and phrases it allowed them to bring forth an entirely new layer of understanding from these texts that could be utilized for religious purposes. In addition gematria was applied to numerological techniques like predicting when calamities would occur or when a special event was likely to occur.

In modern times gematria has been adopted by some occultists for divination purposes as well as being used as an analytical tool for understanding a variety of topics including events in history, mythology, astrology among many others things. Its usage can be seen online today with popular numerologists providing daily interpretations based on gematriacal calculations around current events and topics pertaining to the world at large.

So overall gematria is an ancient method of assigning numerical values to words or phrases in order uncover hidden meaning that could prove beneficial for various aspects of religious study or other occult practices during certain eras in history. It continues its usage even today within many esoteric circles where interpretations are derived from its results that can provide insight into current issues found around our world today