Dalet — the 4th Hebrew letter
ד
Spelled דלת — full spelling gematria 434
Symbolism
Door, pathway, lowliness (dal — poor, humble); the fourth direction that completes a space
What the letter is built from
Traditionally a resh with a yod at its corner — or two vavs joined at a right angle
Its first root in Scripture
The first dalet root is deshe — the earth's first sprouting
Messianic thread
'I am the door; whoever enters through Me will be saved.' The dalet stands beside gimel as the humble receiver — and the Messiah calls the poor in spirit blessed at the door of the kingdom.
In the mystical tradition
Dalet is dalut, holy poverty — the vessel that has nothing of its own and therefore can receive everything. The bent shape bows.
Wisdom of the letter
Four winds, four corners, four rivers of Eden, four matriarchs — dalet numbers the wholeness of the created world.