The gematria of the name Peter is an interesting subject that connects biblical history, ancient Greek, Hebrew, and the numerical values assigned to letters. Peter is one of the best-known figures in the New Testament and one of the most prominent disciples of Jesus. Because the New Testament was written primarily in Greek, the Greek form of his name provides an especially interesting starting point for a gematria calculation.

The Greek name of Peter is:

Πέτρος (Petros)

Using traditional Greek numerical values, the name ΠΕΤΡΟΣ has a value of:

80 + 5 + 300 + 100 + 70 + 200 = 755

Therefore:

ΠΕΤΡΟΣ = 755

The name also has an important linguistic connection with the Greek word petra, meaning "rock." This connection is especially significant because Jesus gives Simon the name Peter in the New Testament.

There are also Hebrew and Aramaic forms of the name, most notably Cephas (כיפא / Kephas), which can produce different numerical values depending on the spelling and system used.

This article explores the gematria of Peter, its Greek numerical value, the meaning of the name, its biblical significance, and the differences between Greek and Hebrew calculations.

What Is Gematria?

Gematria is a traditional method of assigning numerical values to letters. Once numerical values have been assigned, the letters of a word or name can be added together to produce a total.

Gematria is most strongly associated with Hebrew, but similar numerical systems existed in ancient Greek and other languages.

In Greek, the practice of comparing words through their numerical values is commonly known as isopsephy.

The Greek alphabet has numerical values such as:

• Α (Alpha) = 1
• Β (Beta) = 2
• Γ (Gamma) = 3
• Δ (Delta) = 4
• Ε (Epsilon) = 5
• Ϛ (Stigma) = 6
• Ζ (Zeta) = 7
• Η (Eta) = 8
• Θ (Theta) = 9
• Ι (Iota) = 10
• Κ (Kappa) = 20
• Λ (Lambda) = 30
• Μ (Mu) = 40
• Ν (Nu) = 50
• Ξ (Xi) = 60
• Ο (Omicron) = 70
• Π (Pi) = 80
• Ρ (Rho) = 100
• Σ (Sigma) = 200
• Τ (Tau) = 300
• Υ (Upsilon) = 400
• Φ (Phi) = 500
• Χ (Chi) = 600
• Ψ (Psi) = 700
• Ω (Omega) = 800

These values allow Greek names and words to be converted into numbers.

The Greek Name Peter: Petros

The Greek name Peter is:

Πέτρος

Without the accent mark, it can be written:

ΠΕΤΡΟΣ

The name contains six Greek letters:

• Π — Pi = 80
• Ε — Epsilon = 5
• Τ — Tau = 300
• Ρ — Rho = 100
• Ο — Omicron = 70
• Σ — Sigma = 200

The calculation is:

80 + 5 + 300 + 100 + 70 + 200 = 755

Therefore:

Peter = 755

under traditional Greek isopsephy.

The accent in Πέτρος does not have a numerical value, so it does not affect the calculation.

What Does the Name Peter Mean?

The Greek name Petros is related to the Greek word petra, generally translated as "rock" or "rocky mass."

The name is particularly important in the New Testament because Jesus gives Simon the name Peter.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus says:

"You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church."

The Greek wording creates a significant linguistic relationship between Petros and petra.

This connection between Peter and "rock" has played a major role in Christian theology and interpretation throughout history.

The name's meaning is therefore arguably more important historically than its numerical value.

Peter's Original Name: Simon

Peter was originally known as Simon.

In Greek, his name appears as:

Σίμων (Simōn)

This means that there are actually multiple names worth examining when studying Peter through gematria:

• Simon
• Peter
• Cephas

Each name belongs to a different linguistic or historical context and can produce a different numerical value.

This is important because asking for "the gematria of Peter" requires identifying which form of the name is being calculated.

The Gematria of Simon

The Greek name ΣΙΜΩΝ (Simōn) can also be calculated using Greek numerical values.

The letters are:

• Σ = 200
• Ι = 10
• Μ = 40
• Ω = 800
• Ν = 50

Adding them together:

200 + 10 + 40 + 800 + 50 = 1,100

Therefore:

ΣΙΜΩΝ = 1,100

This is significantly different from the value of Peter:

ΠΕΤΡΟΣ = 755

The difference illustrates how the same individual can have different gematria values depending on which name is being used.

Peter and Cephas

The New Testament also refers to Peter by the name Cephas.

Cephas comes from an Aramaic or Semitic term related to the concept of a rock or stone.

The Greek New Testament sometimes preserves the form Κηφᾶς (Kēphas).

This name is particularly interesting because it provides another linguistic connection to Peter's identity.

Paul, for example, uses the name Cephas in several passages.

The existence of Simon, Peter, and Cephas illustrates the multilingual environment of the first century. A person could be known by different forms of a name depending on the language being used.

Gematria of Kephas in Greek

If we calculate the Greek form:

ΚΗΦΑΣ

the values are:

• Κ = 20
• Η = 8
• Φ = 500
• Α = 1
• Σ = 200

Therefore:

20 + 8 + 500 + 1 + 200 = 729

So:

ΚΗΦΑΣ = 729

This gives us another numerical value associated with Peter's name.

The three Greek forms can therefore be compared:

Name	Greek Form	Value
Peter	ΠΕΤΡΟΣ	755
Simon	ΣΙΜΩΝ	1,100
Cephas	ΚΗΦΑΣ	729

These values are not interchangeable. Each belongs to a particular spelling.

The Hebrew or Aramaic Form of Cephas

The name Cephas is related to the Aramaic word Kepha, meaning rock or stone.

A common Hebrew spelling is:

כיפא

The standard Hebrew letter values are:

• כ = 20
• י = 10
• פ = 80
• א = 1

Therefore:

20 + 10 + 80 + 1 = 111

So, using this spelling:

כיפא = 111

This is a very different number from both 755 and 729.

Again, the reason is not that one calculation is necessarily wrong. The calculations are based on different alphabets and spellings.

Why Does Peter Have So Many Gematria Values?

This is one of the most important lessons when studying biblical gematria.

Names were not necessarily written in only one language.

Peter lived in a multilingual environment involving languages such as:

• Aramaic
• Hebrew
• Greek
• Latin

The New Testament itself was written in Greek, although many of the people and places described in it had Semitic linguistic backgrounds.

Consequently, a name can have different forms in different languages.

For Peter:

Petros → 755

Simōn → 1,100

Kēphas → 729

Kepha (כיפא) → 111

These numbers reflect different linguistic forms rather than contradictory calculations.

Peter and the Symbolism of the Rock

The most important symbolic association of Peter's name is probably not its numerical value but its connection with rock.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus associates Simon with the rock metaphor.

This has generated centuries of theological discussion.

Different Christian traditions interpret the passage differently, particularly regarding the relationship between Peter, the church, and authority.

From a linguistic perspective, the connection between Petros and petra is particularly important.

From a gematria perspective, the numerical value of Petros is 755.

These are two separate forms of interpretation.

Is 755 a Symbolic Number?

There is no universally accepted biblical meaning for the number 755.

The number is important here because it is the result of calculating the Greek name Petros.

It would therefore be misleading to claim that the Bible explicitly assigns a spiritual meaning to 755.

Modern numerology may interpret the number differently.

For example, someone could reduce 755 to a single digit:

7 + 5 + 5 = 17

and then:

1 + 7 = 8

This produces the number 8.

However, this is a numerological reduction rather than traditional Greek isopsephy.

It should therefore be presented separately from the historical gematria calculation.

Peter and the Number 8

If modern numerology is applied to 755, the final reduction is:

7 + 5 + 5 = 17

1 + 7 = 8

The number 8 is sometimes associated with ideas such as renewal, achievement, balance, or new beginnings.

Christian symbolism has also sometimes connected the eighth day with resurrection and renewal.

However, there is no established biblical teaching that says Peter's name spiritually equals 8 because its Greek value is 755.

The numerical reduction is a modern interpretive technique.

Peter in the New Testament

Peter is one of the most prominent figures in the New Testament.

He was one of the twelve apostles and is frequently portrayed as a leading disciple of Jesus.

The Gospels describe Peter as a fisherman who became one of Jesus' closest followers.

He appears prominently in episodes such as:

• The calling of the disciples
• Walking on water
• The Transfiguration
• Jesus' prediction of Peter's denial
• Peter's threefold denial
• The resurrection narratives
• The early Christian community

The Book of Acts also presents Peter as an important leader in the early Christian movement.

This historical and religious importance makes his name particularly suitable for linguistic and numerical study.

Peter's Name and Biblical Gematria

It is tempting to search biblical names for hidden numerical messages, but caution is necessary.

The existence of a numerical value for a name does not automatically mean that the biblical author intended a hidden numerical meaning.

Gematria was certainly possible in the ancient world, particularly because both Hebrew and Greek letters could function numerically.

However, each individual calculation needs to be examined in its historical and textual context.

For Peter, the most straightforward conclusion is simply that:

Petros = 755

in Greek isopsephy.

The theological symbolism of Peter as "rock" comes primarily from the biblical text and linguistic meaning of the name rather than from the number 755.

Peter and the Other Apostles

The names of the apostles can also be examined using Greek isopsephy.

This creates an interesting research opportunity for anyone interested in biblical names and numerical values.

For example, names such as:

• John
• James
• Andrew
• Philip
• Thomas
• Matthew
• Bartholomew
• Peter
• Simon
• Judas

can all be analyzed using the Greek alphabet.

However, the numerical value of a name should always be calculated from a clearly specified spelling.

Different versions or transliterations can produce different results.

How to Calculate Peter's Gematria

The calculation can be reproduced easily.

First, write the Greek name:

ΠΕΤΡΟΣ

Then assign each letter its numerical value:

Π = 80

Ε = 5

Τ = 300

Ρ = 100

Ο = 70

Σ = 200

Finally, add them together:

80 + 5 + 300 + 100 + 70 + 200 = 755

Therefore:

ΠΕΤΡΟΣ = 755

This is the standard Greek isopsephy calculation for Petros.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the gematria of Peter?

The Greek name ΠΕΤΡΟΣ (Petros) has a numerical value of 755 using traditional Greek isopsephy.

What does Peter mean?

Peter comes from the Greek Petros, a name associated with the concept of a rock or stone.

What was Peter's original name?

Peter was originally known as Simon. The New Testament also uses the name Cephas, reflecting the Aramaic form associated with "rock."

What is the gematria of Simon?

The Greek form ΣΙΜΩΝ (Simōn) has a value of 1,100.

What is the gematria of Cephas?

The Greek form ΚΗΦΑΣ (Kēphas) has a value of 729.

A Hebrew spelling such as כיפא produces 111.

Why are there different numbers for Peter?

The different values come from different names, languages, and spellings. Petros, Simon, and Cephas are related to the same individual but are not the same word.

Does 755 have a biblical meaning?

There is no universally recognized biblical meaning for 755. It is primarily the numerical value obtained from the Greek name Petros.

Final Thoughts

The gematria of Peter provides a fascinating example of how biblical names can be studied through ancient numerical systems.

The Greek name Petros (ΠΕΤΡΟΣ) produces the value:

80 + 5 + 300 + 100 + 70 + 200 = 755

Therefore:

Peter = 755 in Greek isopsephy.

But Peter's linguistic history is even more interesting because he was also known as Simon and Cephas. These names produce different numerical values:

Petros = 755

Simōn = 1,100

Kēphas = 729

Kepha (כיפא) = 111

These differences demonstrate one of the fundamental principles of gematria: a numerical value depends on the exact letters, spelling, language, and numerical system being used.

For Peter, however, the most significant symbolic connection is arguably not the number 755 but the meaning of his name as "rock" and its importance in the New Testament narrative.

Gematria can provide an intriguing additional perspective on biblical names, but it should be distinguished from theological interpretation. The numerical value of a name is a calculation; the meaning assigned to that number belongs to a particular interpretive tradition.

For readers interested in biblical gematria, Greek isopsephy, apostolic names, and the numerical symbolism of the New Testament, Peter offers an excellent example of the complex relationship between ancient languages, names, numbers, and religious history.