EXCERPT :
http://www.thekeystothebible.com/BibleSoft...s/Gematria.aspxWhat is Gematria?
Examples of interpretation using Gematria
Gematria in the New Testament
Gematria in secular matters
The numerical value of the Hebrew letters
The program includes seven different Gematria Methods
Gematria Concordance
Gematria Calculator
Retrieving verses according to a specified Gematria value
Letter Substitution
What is Gematria?
The Hebrew language uses its letters to represent numbers. The first nine letters represent the numbers I to 9 respectively the next 10 letters represent the numbers 10, 20.. to 90 respectively and the next four represent 100. to 400, respectively.
The cipher alphabet makes possible the method known in Hebrew as Gematria, where the numerical value of the letters of a word or verse is used to construct a different word or verse, the numerical value of which equals that of the original passage.
This method of exegesis has been used since the time of the SecondTemple to derive insights into the sacred writings, to obtain interpretations of the text, or to illustrate a secular matter.
Rule #29 in the Baraita of 32 rules in the Talmud considers Gematria as one of the methods for interpreting the Torah. The Talmud gives the following example of interpretation using Gematria:
And when Abram heard that his kinsman was taken captive, he armed his disciples who had been born in his house -three hundred and eighteen - and he pursued them as far as Dan, (Genesis 14:14).
The Talmud comes to the conclusion that the 318 men referred to in Genesis 14:14 are really only one: Eliezer, Abraham's servant. (The numerical value of the word Eliezer is 318, (aleph=1 + lamed=30 + yod=10 + ayin=70 + zayin=7 + resh=200).
Examples of interpretation using Gematria
In Genesis 32:5, Jacob sends a message to his brother, Esau, saying: &ldquoI sojourned with Laban&rdquo. The Hebrew for "I sojourned" is "garti" , gimmel=3, resh=200, tav=400, and yod=10 adding up to a total of 613, which is the number of commandments specified in the Torah. By this the rabbis understood that Jacob was really stating: &ldquoAlthough I sojourned with Laban, I kept the 613 commandments&rdquo.
Genesis 28:12 relates that in a dream Jacob saw a ladder, &ldquosulam&rdquo, stretching from earth to heaven. The numerical value of sulam = 130, (samech=60 + lamed=30 + mem=40) is the same as the numerical value of Sinai (samech=60 + yod=10 + nun=50 + yod=10). Therefore exegetes have concluded that the Law revealed to Moses in Mount Sinai is man's means of reaching heaven.
Gematria in the New Testament
The Book of Revelation in the New Testament uses Gematria to disguise the name of Nero, the Roman emperor, by writing the Greek form of his name in Hebrew characters, which gives it a total numerical value of 666, (Revelation 13:18). Kesar Neron (Kuf=100, samech=60, resh=200, nun=50 + resh=200 + vav=6 + nun=50)