Are Gematria And Numerology Biblical?

Gematria, a Christian version of Biblical numerology, uses the Greek values of its letters to search for symbolism in words used in and related to the New Testament. This system assigns numerical value to Hebrew letters, a method of exegesis used by medieval Kabbalists to derive mystical insights into sacred writings or obtain meanings. Gematria is a subset of numerology focused on studying numbers within the Holy Bible, differing significantly from secular numerology, which is usually focused on predicting future.

In late Judaism and early Christianity, gematria provided a basis for numbers having religious or spiritual symbolism. Jewish rabbis commonly used gematria, which is a subset of numerology that looks at the Hebrew letters of a word and their corresponding numerical values for possible patterns and meanings. There are at least two cases of gematria appearing in the New Testament, with the reference to the miraculous catch of 153 fish in John 21:11 being largely seen as an application of gematria derived from Ezekiel 47.

Gematria can be found in two main forms: the more famous, reflected in Revelation’s 666 (Rev 13:18), and the less famous, involving the substitution of numbers for Hebrew letters. Jewish mystics sought spiritual meaning in the numerical value of words and phrases in the practice of gematria, using it to examine Hebrew consonants.

Despite its significance, gematria is not “numerology” or “math”, as “numbers” are irrelevant as far as purpose is concerned. It is how our language becomes our science, and its significance remains debated.

Can God communicate to you through numbers?

Judgment occurs when things are out of order, as seen in the biblical numbers nine and eleven. Nine represents unity, faithful witness, perfect completion, creation, grace, flesh and humanity, seven, and new beginnings. The positive side of nine is fruit-bearing, while the unredeemed side is judgment. Judgment occurs when the Spirit of God moves in a place He is not compatible with. In the Bible, nine times Jerusalem was besieged, and nine biblical situations saw fire coming from heaven to earth. In Haggai chapter 1, God’s judgment is poured out on nine different things.

Is believing in astrology against Christianity?

In Matthew 28:18, Jesus asserts that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. This contradicts biblical wisdom, as chasing after false gods is a sin. There is no biblical evidence that God has given authority to stars or astrologists. Pursuing predictions about our destiny or personality is biblically sinful, as it takes power from God and gives it to something other than God. A horoscope cannot change what God has already ordained before we were even created.

What does the Bible say about synchronicity?

In Romans 8:28, the most illustrative verse in the Bible regarding synchronicity is “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” This phrase can be interpreted as an indication that God oversees all events in our lives.

What does the Bible say about astrology?

In Matthew 28:18, Jesus asserts that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. This contradicts biblical wisdom, as chasing after false gods is a sin. There is no biblical evidence that God has given authority to stars or astrologists. Pursuing predictions about our destiny or personality is biblically sinful, as it takes power from God and gives it to something other than God. A horoscope cannot change what God has already ordained before we were even created.

What is the most spiritual number in the Bible?

In Genesis 1, seven symbolizes completeness, with the journey to achieve it requiring a linear progression through 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. This picture of God creating provides insight into how God continues to recreate the world. As an Israelite reader, Genesis 1 teaches that your life of worship rhythm is intertwined with the fabric of the universe, allowing us to understand the world we live in and the rhythms of our worship.

What does the Bible say about gematria?

Gematria, a term used in Jewish texts, has been present in English since the 17th century. The first documented use of gematria is from an Assyrian inscription dating to the 8th century BCE, commissioned by Sargon II. The Milesian system, a practice of using alphabetic letters to represent numbers, developed in the Greek city of Miletus. Early examples include vase graffiti dating to the 6th century BCE. Aristotle wrote that the Pythgoraean tradition, founded by Pythagoras of Samos, practiced isopsephy, the Greek predecessor of gematria.

Pythagoras was a contemporary of philosophers Anaximander, Anaximenes, and historian Hecataeus, all of whom lived in Miletus. The Milesian system was in common use by Alexander the Great’s reign and adopted by other cultures during the Hellenistic period. It was officially adopted in Egypt during Ptolemy II Philadelphus’ reign.

Why is gematria important?

Gematria is a method of exegesis used by medieval Kabbalists to interpret sacred writings or derive mystical insights. It involves replacing Hebrew letters with numbers, which can be useful when difficult or ambiguous texts fail to yield satisfactory analysis. For instance, in Genesis 28:12, Jacob saw a ladder (Hebrew sullam) stretching from earth to heaven, which was numerically equivalent to Sinai. This led exegetes to believe that the Law revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai is man’s means of reaching heaven.

The first ten letters in the Hebrew alphabet are given consecutive numbers, while the next eight are given numbers in intervals of ten. More complex methods, such as using the squares of numbers or making a letter equivalent to its basic value plus all preceding numbers, have also been employed.

Does the Bible support numerology?

The Bible contains symbolic meanings for numbers, but using them to uncover hidden truths or future events is not considered biblical teaching. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 warns against interpreting omens or engaging in witchcraft, extending the prohibition to any method of predicting the future. The message is to trust in God’s providence over numbers for divine insight. Theological perspectives on numbers often extend beyond simple quantity to imply deeper theological significance, with various numbers interpreted as having symbolic meanings reflecting God’s truth and plan.

What are the 4 holy numbers?

The number 4 is the number of order in the universe, representing the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, four seasons, the four points of the compass, and the four phases of the Moon. It is central to Buddhism, the Pythagoreans, and medieval times, where it was believed to be the source of the tetractys 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10. The Sioux world view also includes four groups of gods, four types of animals, and four ages of humans.

Medicine men instructed them to carry out all activities in groups of four. As a practical number, few superstitions are associated with it, except in China where it is unlucky due to the similar sound of “she” and “shi” and in the biblical Revelation to John.

What religion believes in numerology?

Gematria, a Jewish tradition that assigns mystical meaning to words based on their numerical values, is also known as numerology. Numerology, also known as arithmancy, is the belief in an occult, divine, or mystical relationship between a number and coinciding events. It is the study of the numerical value of letters in words and names, often associated with astrology and other divinatory arts. Numerologists can be those who place faith in numerical patterns and draw inferences from them, even if they do not practice traditional numerology.

The term arithmancy is derived from two Greek words – arithmos (meaning number) and manteia (meaning divination), and is derived from the Greek words arithmos (meaning number) and manteia (meaning divination). Arithmancy is the study of divination through numbers, with the word “numerology” not recorded in English until c. 1907.

Who started gematria?

The use of letters to signify numbers has been known to the Babylonians and Greeks since ancient times. The first use of gematria is found in an inscription of Sargon II (727–707 B. C. E.), which states that the king built the wall of Khorsabad 16, 283 cubits long to correspond with the numerical value of his name. This practice was widespread in the literature of the Magi and among interpreters of dreams in the Hellenistic world. The Gnostics equated the holy names Abraxas and Mithras based on the equivalent numerical value of their letters (365, corresponding to the days of the solar year).

Numerical gematria first appeared in rabbinic literature in the 2nd century C. E. and is used as supporting evidence and a mnemonic by R. Nathan. It is also used in the Baraita of 32 Rules to interpret the 318 men referred to in Genesis 14:14 as only Eliezer the servant of Abraham, with the numerical value of his name being 318. This interpretation may be a reply to the Christian interpretation in the Epistle of Barnabas that seeks to find in the Greek letters τιη, whose numerical value is 318, a reference to the cross and the first two letters of Jesus’ name, through which Abraham achieved his victory.

The Hebrew alphabet uses four methods to calculate the numeral value of the letters, known as Mispar Hekhreḥi, which gives each letter a specific numerical equivalent. The final forms of the letters, such as kaf, mem, nun, pei, and ẓadi, are often given the same numerical equivalent as the standard form of the letter, sometimes giving them values 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900, respectively. This brings the numerical equivalencies of the Hebrew alphabet to 1, 000, with the word alef also being read as elef, meaning 1, 000.