The 39 ‘Fathers’ of Work

ל"ט אֲבוֹת מְלָאכוֹת

945=18

There are thirty-nine general categories of labor that are forbidden on Shabbat which our Sages teach us in the Talmud (Shabbat). Each of these categories include a range of derivative laws and activities. The “Melachot” are generally divided into six groups, classified according to the Mishkan's activities with which they are associated.

As we shall see below the total gematria of these 39 types of work (44 (8) words) prohibited on the Shabbat have a joint gematria of 26=8. This number corresponds to the Name of Hashem-YKVK- יהוה.

Field Work

1.       Sowing-                                             זוֹרֵעַ=283

2.       Plowing-                                           חוֹרֵשׁ=514

3.       Reaping-                                          קּוֹצֵר=386

4.       Binding Sheaves-                            מְעַמֵּר=350

5.       Threshing-                                          דָּשׁ=304

6.       Winnowing-                                       זּוֹרֶה=218

7.       Selecting-                                         בּוֹרֵר=408

8.       Grinding-                                          טּוֹחֵן=73

9.       Sifting-                                            מְרַקֵּד=344

10.   Kneading-                                            לָּשׁ=330

11.   Baking-                                             אוֹפֶה=92  

         

Material Work

12.   Shearing Wool-                                 גּוֹזֵז=23

13.   Cleaning-                                         מְלַבְּן=122

14.   Combing-                                         מְנַפְּץ=260

15.   Dyeing-                                            צוֹבֵעַ=168

16.   Spinning-                                         טּוֹוֶה=26

17.   Stretching the Threads-                  מֵּיסֵךְ=610

18.   Making Loops-             עשיית בָתֵּי נִירִין=1522           

19.   Weaving Threads-                           אוֹרֵג=210

20.   Separating the Threads-                 פּוֹצֵעַ=246

21.   Tying a Knot-                                  קּוֹשֵׁר=606

22.   Untying a Knot-                               מַּתִּיר=650

23.   Sewing-                                           תּוֹפֵר=686

24.   Tearing-                                           קּוֹרֵעַ=376 

         

Leather Work

25.   Trapping-                                         צָּד=94

26.   Slaughtering-                              שׁוֹחֵט=323

27.   Skinning-                                  מַּפְשִׁיט=439

28.   Salting-                                        מְעַבֵּד=136

29.   Tanning-                                     מְמַחֵק=188

30.   Scraping-                                 מְשַרְטֵט=558

31.   Cutting-                                       מְחַתְּך=468 

       

Construction Work

32.   Writing-                                        כּוֹתֵב=428

33.   Erasing-                                       מּוֹחֵק=154         

34.   Building-                                        בּוֹנֶה=63

35.   Breaking Down-                            סּוֹתֵר=666 

       

Miscellaneous

36.   Extinguishing a Fire-                      מְכַבֶּה=67

37.   Kindling a Fire-                             מַּבְעִיר=322

38.   Striking the Hammer-          מַּכֶּה בַפַּטִּישׁ=466

39.   Carrying from domain to domain- הוֹצִאה מֵרְשׁוּת לִרְשׁוּת=1989

14678=26=8

44 words=8

The gematria of the word “work”- מְלָאכָה is 96.

There are 39 types of forbidden works on the Shabbat:

96+39=135=1+8

96*39=3744=18