Appendix 2 - The Numerical Interpretation of Hebrew Words

A significant feature of the Judeo-Christian scriptures - though hardly ever referred to by theologians - is that all translations rest upon Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek originals whose letters and words may also be fairly read as numbers. Evidences of these old alphabetic numbering systems confront us still - as, for example, on the dials of many townhall clocks and in the verse and chapter numberings of some of the older books on our shelves.

What distinguishes the Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek systems from the Roman are, (a) all (not just the seven: I, V, X, L, C, D and M) alphabetic characters were requisitioned for use as numerals and, (b) the value represented by a string of letters was understood to be the simple sum of its constituent parts.

Here is the Hebrew scheme - introduced circa 200 BC:

The Hebrew/Aramaic scheme of alphabetic numeration

Observe that of the 22 letters, 5 have alternative end-forms.

Clearly, wherever found, Hebrew words are hereby firmly (and unavoidably) linked with discrete numbers; and though such words may, from time to time, be "interpreted" so as to mean something different from what the author intended, it is clear that the number closely integrated with each word is invariant. The implication must be - provided one believes that the words of the Scriptures were authored by God himself - that these numbers were also contrived by him.

Remarkably, this conclusion appears to be immediately confirmed in a numero-geometrical analysis of the Bible's opening verse, Genesis 1:1 - this comprising the first 7 of the Torah's 68,504 Hebrew words. Here are the details:

The numerical expression of Genesis 1:1

Reading from right to left we find the 28 individual letter-values inscribed above the words of the text, and their respective sums (the characteristic values, or CVs) below. Observe that the untranslatable 4th word indicates that the following noun is the definite and direct object of the transitive verb. This appears again in the latter part of word 6. The verse total (sum of the 7 CVs) is 2701.

Another confluence of interest involves the breastplate of the High Priest.

Vernon Jenkins MSc

2006-01-28