of numerical manipulations, i.e. gematria, as a method of exegesis first shows up in rabbinic literature of the second century where it is used for the most part as supporting evidence. Another form of gematria known as atbash in which the last letter is substituted for the first, the one before last for the second, and so on, occurs earlier in Scripture. In Midrashim dedicated to the interpretation of letters the use of gematria also plays a role.

In the literature of the kabbalah, the Zohar in particular, which is said to have been written or compiled in the 1700s, gematria is significant. Intended by mystics as a method of training one’s mind away from literal meanings of texts toward a more metaphorical or symbolic reading, gematria gained considerable prominence as a method of interpretation during the Sabbatean (messianic) movement when it was used to prove that Sabbatai Zevi was a messiah. In mockery of such facile proofs, enemies of Sabbateans countered with their own gematrias, taking up where the believers left off. One example:

The Sabbateans said that their leader’s name adds up to the same total (814) as Shaddai, the name of God. Enemies pointed out that the Hebrew words ru’ah sheker or false spirit also add up to 814.

Gematria plays a major role in the literature of Oriental and North African Jewry after the 1700s. In Hasidic literature it shows up at first only as a sidebar to other interpretations. Later several rabbis (1860s) considered it significant and allowed it to make up the bulk of their interpretive works.

The Kabbalist Moses Cordovero lists nine systems of gematria in use in his day. Other sources (Oxford MS.) list 72 varieties. Ibn Ezra criticized the use of gematria and Nahmanides ruled that no one may calculate the numerical values of letters and words in order to fulfill an idea that occurs to him beforehand.

It’s worth noting that in India similar numerological manipulations are commonly used for astrological advising. For an example of my use of gematria in fiction, see the prologue of my novel, Giving Up America.

NUMEROLOGICAL MANIPULATIONS: The Gematria
For a more detailed history of Gematria, see Gershom Scholem’s Kabbalah (New York: Penguin Books, New York, 1978) p. 337-343.