3

In Genesis 5:3, where Adam's age is stated as 130 years old, is there by chance any alternative, maybe gematria-type alternative meaning for 130? I don't mean a different age, but a word that 130 could also reference in addition to an age of 130 years? Double-meaning?

Thanks!

Improve this question
7
  • 1
    Welcome to BHSX. Thanks for your question. Please remember to take to tour to understand how this site works. – Dottard Jul 3 '20 at 6:58
  • 1
    The problem with Gematria is that it only came into existence after the Bible was finished, 2nd century or later. To interpret text according to an after thought is made hermeneutic. – Dottard Jul 3 '20 at 7:03
  • 1
    @Dottard, that's fascinating. What evidence do you have for that claim. It would be great to be able to conclusively shut that one down. – Gus L. Jul 3 '20 at 11:06
  • @GusL. Cabbalism was a medieval practice. While the association of letters with number is (as some dubiously claim) goes back much further (without much evidence) Cabbalism as applied to Hebrew scriptures can only be traced several centuries after Christ. – Dottard Jul 3 '20 at 11:21
  • 1
    The fact that Matthew points out that the genealogy of Jesus repeats the figure of fourteen three times, indicates that certain numbers, in certain circumstances, are to be noticed. – Nigel J Jul 3 '20 at 21:17
3

This link to Bill Heidrick's list gives about thirty possible meanings associated with the number 130, and its primes - 2, 5, 13 - based on the Gematria idea and system.

I have no idea how authoritative this work is, or how reliable.

Nor do I know how one would choose between the variety of meanings.

But the link is there and the list is there, if you wish to access it.

Wikipedia also has a lot of information about the history of the subject, but opinions differ as to whether, in fact, there is any real 'embedding' of a 'code' into the Hebrew scriptures.

Some see it in the text and others think it to be a fanciful theory, not borne out by the spirituality of the content of the holy text.

Numbers are used, it is true, in an allusory way in scripture, the numbers seven and ten and six and five, for example, often pointing to a spiritual hint of meaning, but my understanding is that that is a different matter from the Gematria 'embedded code' concept.

That Matthew draws attention to the triple recurrence of the number fourteen in the genealogy of Jesus with which he begins his book, indicates that, in certain cases, numbers are to be noticed. Again, in the book of Revelation, numbers clearly have spiritual signification.

But to extend that into a concept which supposes that every mentioned number must be 'translated' into a supposed code, is another thing altogether.

Improve this answer
2
  • Thanks. I've met a guy named Adam and he knew the meaning of my name, he said 130 in the bible had to do with a mirror, your website says to resemble, so thats probably what he's talking about lol. Thanks :) – JennPQ Jul 3 '20 at 13:16
  • @JennPQ And, also, the Hebrew root of Adam, and also Edom, is red or earthy. Which has, of course, a spiritual meaning in itself. – Nigel J Jul 3 '20 at 14:23

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.