How to Read a Gematria Chart
A gematria chart is a reference table showing the numeric value of each letter in a given method. Once you can read one, you can calculate any word by hand in minutes, verify any calculator result, and quickly spot the differences between ciphers.
What a Gematria Chart Shows
Each row or cell in a chart pairs a letter with its value in a specific method. An English Ordinal chart shows A=1 through Z=26. A Reverse Ordinal chart shows Z=1 through A=26 — the sequence is simply flipped. A Full Reduction chart shows each letter reduced to a single digit using a 1–9 repeating cycle. Hebrew charts list the 22 Hebrew letters with their traditional values.
The chart format makes the underlying rules of each cipher instantly readable. You do not need to memorize letter values — a quick glance at the chart gives you everything you need to calculate any word by hand.
English Ordinal Chart: The Core Reference
The English Ordinal chart is the most commonly referenced in English gematria. Its 26 values are sequential and easy to remember: each letter is worth its position in the alphabet.
| Letters | Values |
|---|---|
| A B C D E F G H I | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 |
| J K L M N O P Q R | 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 |
| S T U V W X Y Z | 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 |
How Charts Differ Between Methods
Placing two charts side by side makes the differences between methods instantly visible. In English Ordinal, the letter S is worth 19. In Full Reduction, S reduces to 1 (1+9=10, then 1+0=1). In Jewish Gematria, S is worth 100. These differences explain why the same word produces a completely different total in each method.
You do not have to memorize all the charts. Use them as lookup tables when you want to verify a result or understand where a number came from.
| Letter | English Ordinal | Full Reduction | Reverse Ordinal | Jewish Gematria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | 1 | 26 | 1 |
| E | 5 | 5 | 22 | 5 |
| L | 12 | 3 | 15 | 30 |
| O | 15 | 6 | 12 | 60 |
| S | 19 | 1 | 8 | 100 |
| T | 20 | 2 | 7 | 200 |
| Z | 26 | 8 | 1 | 800 |
Using a Chart to Calculate by Hand
Calculating by hand is the best way to understand what a calculator is actually doing. Once you verify one result yourself, you will trust the tool more and better understand any discrepancies you encounter on other sites.
- Write out the letters of your word in uppercase.
- Open the chart for your chosen method.
- Write the value of each letter beneath it.
- Add all the values together to get the total.
- Compare your total with the calculator result to confirm.
Worked Example: PEACE in English Ordinal
Let us calculate PEACE step by step using the English Ordinal chart. P=16, E=5, A=1, C=3, E=5. Adding these together: 16+5+1+3+5 = 30. The gematria value of PEACE in English Ordinal is 30. You can verify this in the calculator or on the examples page for PEACE.
Now try the same word in Full Reduction. P reduces to 7 (16: 1+6=7), E=5, A=1, C=3, E=5. Total: 7+5+1+3+5 = 21. The Full Reduction value of PEACE is 21. Both results are correct — they just come from different charts.
Hebrew and Other Alphabet Charts
Hebrew Gematria charts list the 22 Hebrew letters and their traditional values. The pattern is: Aleph through Tet = 1–9, Yod through Tzadi = 10–90, Qof through Tav = 100–400. Some systems also include final letter forms (sofit) with distinct values.
If you are working with Hebrew text, always use the Hebrew chart. Applying an English chart to Hebrew letters, or vice versa, will produce meaningless results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find a gematria chart for each method?
Gematria Explorer has charts for all methods on the Charts page. Each chart shows every letter and its value in that method.
Why does LOVE equal 54 in English Ordinal?
L=12, O=15, V=22, E=5. Adding those values: 12+15+22+5 = 54. You can verify this using the English Ordinal chart or the calculator.
Is there a chart for Jewish Gematria?
Yes. The Jewish Gematria chart (for English letters) shows non-linear values where, for example, S=100, T=200, and Z=800. This is what produces the larger totals in that method.
Can I download a gematria chart?
The Charts page on Gematria Explorer can be saved or printed from your browser. You can also calculate a word and download the result as a PNG image using the Share Card feature.