The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)

1 1 . Gematria is a metathesis of the Greek word 7 pa/u/maTELa. It is based on the relative numerical values of words, as I have before remarked. Words of similar numerical values are considered to be explanatory of each other, and this theory is also extended to phrases. Thus the letter Shin , Sh, is 300, and is equivalent to the number obtained by adding up the numerical values of the letters of the words RVCh ALHIM, Ruach Elohim , the spirit of the Elohim ; and it is therefore a symbol of the spirit of the Elohim. For R = 200, Y = 6, Ch = 8, A=i, L=3o,H=5,I= 10, M=4o ; total=3oo. Similarly, the words AChD, Achcid , Unity, One, and AHBH, Ahebah , love, each = 13; for A=i, Ch = 8, D = 4, total =13; and A=i, H= 5, B= 2, H = 5, total =13. Again, the name of the angel MTTRYN, Metatron or Methroton , and the name of the Deity, ShDI, Shaddcti , each make 314; so the one is taken as symbolical of the other. The angel Metatron is said to have been the conductor of the children of Israel through the wilderness, of whom God says, “My Name is in him.” With regard to Gematria of phrases (Gen. xlix. 10), IB A ShILH, Yeba Shiloh , “Shiloh shall come”= 358, which is the numeration of the word MShICh, Messiah. Thus also the passage, Gen. xviii. 2, YHNH ShLShH, Vehenna Shalisha, “ And lo, three men,” equals in numerical value ALY MIKAL GBRIAL YRPAL, JElo Mikhael Gabriel Ve- Raphael , “These are Mikhael, Gabriel and Raphael ; ” for each phrase = 701. I think these instances will suffice to make clear the nature of Gematria, especially as many others will be found in the course of the ensuing work.

12. Notariqon is derived from the Latin word notarius , a shorthand writer. Of Notariqon there are two forms.

KABBALAH.

In the first every letter of a word is taken for the initial or abbreviation of another word, so that from the letters of a word a sentence may be formed. Thus every letter of the word BRAShITh, Berashitli , the first word in Genesis, is made the initial of a word, and we obtain BRAShITh RAH ALHIM ShIQBLV IShRAL ThYRH, Besrasliith Bahi Elohim Sheyequebelo Israel Torah : “In the beginning the Elohim saw that Israel would accept the law.” In this connection I may give six very interesting specimens of Notariqon formed from this same word BRAShITh by Solomon Meir Ben Moses, a Jewish Qabalist, who embraced the Christian faith in 1665, and took the name of Prosper Rugere. These have all a Christian tendency, and by their means Prosper converted another Jew, who had previously been bitterly opposed to Christianity. The first is, BN RVCh AB ShLYShThM IChD ThMIM, Ben , Buacli , Ah Shaloshethem Yechad Themim : “ The Son, the Spirit, the Father, Their Trinity, Perfect Unity.” The second is, BN RYCh AB ShLYShThM IChD ThOBVDV, Ben , Buach , Ab, Shalo - shethem Yechad Thaubodo : “ The Son, the Spirit, the Father, ye shall equally worship Their Trinity.” The third is, BKVRI RAShYNI AShR ShMY IShYO ThOBYDV, Bekori Bashuni Asher Shamo Yeshuah Thaubodo : “ Ye shall worship My first-born, My first, Whose name is Jesus.” The fourth is, BBVA RBN AShR ShMY IShYO ThOBYDV, Beboa Babban Asher Shamo Yeshuah Thaubodo : “ When the Master shall come Whose Name is Jesus ye shall worship.” The fifth is, BThVLH RAYIH ABChR ShThLD IShYO ThAShRYH, Betliulah Baviali Abachar Shethaled Yeshuah Thashroah : “ I will choose a virgin worthy to bring forth Jesus, and ye shall call her blessed.” The sixth is, BOVGTh RTzPIM ASThThR ShGYPI IShYO ThAKLY, Beaugoth Batzephim Asattar Shegopi Yeshuah Thakelo : “I will hide myself in cake (baked with) coals, for ye shall eat Jesus, My Body.” The Qabalistical importance of these