the.com/gematria
hebrew numerology where letters double as numbers, so words secretly do math.
means a system of assigning numeric values to hebrew (or greek) letters so that words and phrases can be compared, added, and mystically interpreted through their numbers.
from borrowed from greek geometria, it grew out of babylonian and greek letter-number traditions, then flourished in jewish mysticism especially through the talmud and later kabbalah, where matching numeric values between words implied hidden divine connections.
chai equals 18life numerically equals 18, hence gift money in multiples
666revelation's beast number is likely gematria for a roman emperor
no zerohebrew letters skip zero, so counting starts oddly
kabbalah favoriteused to find secret links between unrelated bible words
for instance
chai and 18 — jewish tradition gifts money in multiples of 18
ahad ha'am essays — 19th-century hebrew writer used gematria wordplay in titles
kabbalistic tree of life — sefer yetzirah leans on gematria to link letters and numbers