🏛️ Isosephy – Definition:
Isosephy (from the Greek ἰσοψηφία, meaning “equal in numerical value”) is a Greek literary and numerological device in which letters of words are assigned numerical values, and two or more words or phrases are compared or linked because their total numerical values are the same.
It’s the Greek equivalent of “gematria” in Hebrew tradition and was often used in ancient writings, including early Christian and pagan texts, to hide meanings, make symbolic connections, or express divine or mystical truths through numbers.
💡 Example:
In Greek, each letter has a numerical value:
Α = 1, Β = 2, Γ = 3, Δ = 4, etc.
If we take:
- The name Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) = “Jesus”
→ 10 + 8 + 200 + 70 + 400 + 200 = 888
Ancient writers noticed that 888 contrasted with 666, the “number of the beast” in Revelation — a symbolic play rooted in isosephy.
✨ In summary:
Isosephy = the art of finding hidden or symbolic meaning in words based on their numerical value in Greek.
It was often used to create thematic, spiritual, or poetic resonance between names and ideas.
And there it is! Now go ahead and use isosephy in your CXC prep/CSEC prep.
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