So I'm taking a look at Gematria. It's a different way of thinking. It seems the Bible can be read in many layers...
Gematria
- Thread starter LearningToLetGo
- Start date
God labored six days during creation then rested.
Jesus labored six hours on the cross before dying.
Six represents the number of incompletion.
Seven represents completion.
Jesus labored six hours on the cross before dying.
Six represents the number of incompletion.
Seven represents completion.
Ok..... YOU got me there... Never heard of this word... but if I take a clue from your second post... I will take a guess ( without looking it up )
that this means the study of numbers... and I will ever get more specific.... because you used biblical examples...
The mathematical formulas of the BIBLE. Do I get a sucker???
Do so with caution my brother.
Frankly, I have enough of a difficult time discerning the meaning of the original author using something like the grammatical-historical method. And even when we come to arrive at a straight-forward meaning, I have even more of time dedicated to living out what Scripture is calling me to do.
God’s Word is interesting in itself. There are many good ways to study the Scriptures. Gematria is not one of them.
But that is just my opinion for whatever it is worth (about 39 cents).
Good morning, LearningToLetGo;
I love your zeal and interest in Gematria. I've personally never paid attention to Jewish numerology nor think about it.
My focus has been more the study and interpretation of Biblical hermeneutics and how it's applied in human relationships. YIKES! That's a mouthful in itself with never ending challenges.
As Major encourages, please take caution in your new interest, that what you gain is centered on Christ.
God bless you, Jason.
Bob
I'm trying to get into the headspace of a 1st century Jew, to understand Scripture as they did.
I don't think you can get there from where you are.
Here's a bit of digging I did with the help of some AI tools.
Nachash - serpent:
Serpent – נָחָשׁ (Nachash)
נ (Nun) = 50
ח (Chet) = 8
ש (Shin) = 300
Sum: 50 + 8 + 300 = 358
Maschiach - messiah
Messiah – מָשִׁיחַ (Mashiach)
מ (Mem) = 40
ש (Shin) = 300
י (Yod) = 10
ח (Chet) = 8
Sum: 40 + 300 + 10 + 8 = 358
Both total to 358. This is probably not a coincidence. Apparently, ancient Jewish thought saw an interconnectedness between opposites. The serpent represents temptation whereas the messiah provides redemption.
I'm just getting started on this little journey so I'm sure there's much more to it, but still it's fascinating. I'm sure the authors of scripture were quite aware of these connections. Perhaps it was considered such common knowledge that it wasn't worth explicitly pointing it out. But to those of us in the modern era this is almost unheard of, and an example of how we perhaps implicitly misunderstand what's right in front of our face.
Nachash - serpent:
Serpent – נָחָשׁ (Nachash)
נ (Nun) = 50
ח (Chet) = 8
ש (Shin) = 300
Sum: 50 + 8 + 300 = 358
Maschiach - messiah
Messiah – מָשִׁיחַ (Mashiach)
מ (Mem) = 40
ש (Shin) = 300
י (Yod) = 10
ח (Chet) = 8
Sum: 40 + 300 + 10 + 8 = 358
Both total to 358. This is probably not a coincidence. Apparently, ancient Jewish thought saw an interconnectedness between opposites. The serpent represents temptation whereas the messiah provides redemption.
I'm just getting started on this little journey so I'm sure there's much more to it, but still it's fascinating. I'm sure the authors of scripture were quite aware of these connections. Perhaps it was considered such common knowledge that it wasn't worth explicitly pointing it out. But to those of us in the modern era this is almost unheard of, and an example of how we perhaps implicitly misunderstand what's right in front of our face.
Hello LearningToLetGo;
I'm just thinking out loud. Could Gematria have been the latest in Jewish numerical systems back then, compared to our binary/computer/technology for the last 50 - 400 years?
Is that why Jesus cried from the cross, "It is finished!"? (man's debt completely paid for)
John 19:30 KJV
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.