The Secret Meanings of the Hebrew Letters in the Bible

The basis of all Judeo-Christian scriptures is the Hebrew letters. Without an in depth knowledge of the Hebrew letters, the original language of the scriptures, one cannot understand the Western religions or the secrets hidden within them. Like Sanskrit, Chinese, Tibetan, Greek and other ancient languages, the Hebrew letters constitute a primary expression of the language and mathematics of spirituality. In scriptures, dreams, and awakened experiences, the symbolism of Kabbalah is delivered through the Hebrew letters. This is the language of the internal worlds. Learn to speak the language of the internal worlds, Kabbalah, by first learning the letters of the language.

"The objective of studying the Kabbalah is to be skilled for work in the Internal Worlds... In Kabbalah we have to constantly look at the Hebrew letters." - Samael Aun Weor, Tarot and Kabbalah (1978)

Download the audio lectures.

Related books: Alchemy and Kabbalah in the Tarot, The Secret Teachings of Moses, Tarot and Kabbalah 

Get Started: Basics About Hebrew

There are twenty-two primary Hebrew letters, although several have an additional form when the letter is used at the end of a word.

Hebrew is written from right to left. Keep that in mind when you see Hebrew words: the first letter will be the furthest to the right (the opposite of English). These are the primary forms of the twenty-two letters:

א ב ג ד ה ו ז ח ט י כ ל מ נ ס ע פ צ ק ר ש ת

Every Hebrew letter carries unique meanings, symbols, and importance. When combined into words, those symbols and meanings are combined, resulting in a very rich and deep significance. Thereore, names and words written in scriptures have meanings that are very deep, and known only to those who know the Hebrew letters. By knowing the letters, one can know the real meaning of scriptural lessons and allegories.

Every Hebrew letter is also a number. Thus, every Hebrew word has a numerical significance. This is why Kabbalah is a science of numbers.

The first step in obtaining the numerical value of a word is to resolve it back into its original tongue. Only words of Greek or Hebrew derivation can be successfully analyzed by this method, and all words must be spelled in their most ancient and complete forms. Old Testament words and names, therefore, must be translated back into the early Hebrew characters and New Testament words into the Greek. Two examples will help to clarify this principle.

The Demiurgus of the Jews is called in English Jehovah, but when seeking the numerical value of the name Jehovah it is necessary to resolve the name into its Hebrew letters. It becomes יהוה, and is read from right to left. The Hebrew letters are: ה, He; ו, Vau; ה, He; י, Yod; and when reversed into the English order from left to right read: Yod-He-Vau-He. By consulting the foregoing table of letter values, it is found that the four characters of this sacred name have the following numerical significance: Yod equals 10. He equals 5, Vau equals 6, and the second He equals 5. Therefore, 10+5+6+5=26, a synonym of Jehovah. If the English letters were used, the answer obviously would not be correct. - Manly P. Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages

The study of the Hebrew letters is a long and profound journey. The letters encode the entire root knowledge of creation and the power of God. Be patient and dilgent to acquire it.

Bezaleel [the architect of the Tabernacle in the desert] knew how to join together the letters, by means of which the heavens and earth were created. - T.B. Berachoth, 55a

To aid you in your study, refer to this useful chart of the Hebrew letters: Online Chart of Hebrew Letters. It is also available as a poster:

Lectures: