Read the Bible and spiritual truths will jump off the page and instantly help transform your mind and soul. But did you know that some of the Bible’s wisdom could get lost in translation. For example, the Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew with spiritual truths imbedded in the Hebrew language using Gematria. Very simply, letters of the Hebrew alphabet are used to represent numbers. And when you add up the numerical values of the letters in a word, phrase or sentence, those sums can show numerical relationships which correspond to spiritual truths. Here’s an example:
The Hebrew word for “love” is Ahavah. And the numerical value of that word adds up to 13. Now let’s look at the Hebrew word for “one.” It’s Echad and its numerical value adds up to 13. And lastly, we’ll look at the word HaShem, a name used to reference God that literally can be translated to mean, “The Name.” Its numerical value is 13. The relationships between these Hebrew words using gematria reveal some beautiful truths.
Some people may wonder, what does love really mean? What IS love? The gematria tells you that love is feeling AT ONE with someone. Since both words have a numerical value of 13, it means those words have a connection. If you feel at one with someone their happiness makes YOU feel happy. So, if you feel that sense of “oneness” with someone, you can feel confident that you love them. In the book of Matthew (22:35-40) a lawyer asked Jesus, which is the greatest commandment and Jesus replied (Matthew 22:37-39):
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
So, how can a person love God? With our new understanding of gematria we know that we can love God by trying to become one with Him … by acting, thinking, and speaking in ways that are consistent with how God acts, thinks, and speaks. Now what about the fact that the gematria for the name HaShem has a numerical value of 13, which is the same as the gematria for the words “love” AND “one”? Well, you’ve heard the phrase that “God Is Love.” Well, there’s your proof! In Deuteronomy 6:4-5 we read:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
If God (HeSham) is one and God created EVERYTHING, it stands to reason that we should strive to be what God intended – ONE with Him.
Remember --
All your efforts ADD UP to bring you ONE (13) with HaShem (13) and to help you grow in LOVE (13)!
