Christian Hebraist

A Christian Hebraist is a scholar of Hebrew who comes from a Christian family background/belief, or is a Jewish adherent of Christianity. The main area of study is that commonly known as the Old Testament to Christians (and Tanakh to Jews), but Christians have occasionally taken an interest in the Talmud, and Kabbalah.

The early fathers of the Christian Church got their knowledge of Hebrew traditions (Masoretic, Midrashim, Aggadah) from their Jewish teachers. This is seen especially in the exegesis of Justin Martyr, Aphraates, Ephraem Syrus, and Origen of Alexandria. Jerome's teachers are even mentioned by name—e.g., Bar Ḥanina (Hananiah).

In the Renaissance

What was known of Jewish literature came to the scholastics entirely through translations, as can be seen in the works of Albertus Magnus.

That the Venerable Bede (673-735) knew anything of Hebrew may be doubted, despite the testimony of Hody in his De Bibliorum Textibus (1705). The same may be said of Alcuin (b. 735); but the "Magister Andreas, natione Anglus" mentioned by Roger Bacon, and identified by S. R. Hirsch with an Augustinian monk who lived about 1150, must at least have been able to read the Bible in the Hebrew original. Bacon himself (b. c. 1210) was "a tolerable Hebrew scholar."

It was not, however, until the end of the 15th century that the Renaissance and the Reformation, while awakening a new interest in the classics, brought about a return to the original text of Scripture and an attempt to understand the later literature of the Jews. Hieronymus Buclidius, the friend of Erasmus, gave more than 20,000 francs to establish a Hebrew chair at Louvain; as the chair of Hebrew at the University of Paris, Francis offered the chair to Elijah Levita, the friend of Cardinal Ægidius of Viterbo, who declined to accept it. Cardinal Grimani and other dignitaries, both of the state and of the Church, studied Hebrew and the Cabala with Jewish teachers; even the warrior Guido Rangoni attempted the Hebrew language with the aid of Jacob Mantino (1526). Pico de la Mirandola (d. 1494) was the first to collect Hebrew manuscripts, and Reuchlin was the first to write a modern grammar of the Hebrew language. But interest still centered wholly around the Bible and the expository literature immediately connected therewith.

During the whole of the 16th century it was Hebrew grammar and Jewish exegesis that claimed attention. Christian scholars were not ashamed to be the students of Jewish teachers. Sebastian Münster (d. 1552) was known as a grammarian; Pellicanus (d. 1556) and Pagninius (d. 1541), as lexicographers; Daniel Bomberg (d. 1549), as a printer of Hebrew books. Arius Montanus (d. 1598) edited the Masorah and the Travels of Benjamin of Tudela. Widmanstadt (1523), living in a colony of Spanish Jewish refugees in Naples, studied Hebrew with David ibn Ya'ya and Baruch of Benevento, and collected the Hebrew manuscripts which formed the basis of the Hebrew division of the Royal Library at Munich. Vatablé (d. 1547) made use of Rashi's commentary. Conrad Gesner (d. 1565) was the first Christian to compile a catalogue of Hebrew books; Jacob Christmann (d. 1613) busied himself with the Jewish calendar, and Drusius (d. 1616) with the ethical writings of the Jews.

Seventeenth century

Johannes Buxtorf (d. 1629) marks a turning-point in the study of Jewish literature by Christians. He not only studied the Targum and the Talmud, but endeavored to understand Jewish history, and he was the first real bibliographer. Women showed an interest: Anna Maria Schurman, the "star of the century", in Holland; Dorothea Moore in England; Queen Christina of Sweden (d. 1689); Maria Dorothea, consort of the Duke of Saxe-Weimar; Elizabeth, daughter of Frederick of the Palatinate; Maria Eleanora, wife of Charles Ludwig of the Palatinate; Antonia, daughter of Duke Eberhard of Württemberg.

Through the influence of Buxtorf a serious attempt was made to understand the post-Biblical literature, and many of the most important works were translated into Latin. In this connection the following names may be mentioned: Coccejus (d. 1667); L'Empereur (d. 1648); Lightfoot (d. 1675); Leusden (d. 1699); and especially Surenhuis (1698), who gave a complete translation of the Mishnah; Jewish theology was studied by (Carpzov (d. 1699), Wagenseil (1705; whose letters show the care he took to gather information from both Jews and Jewesses), and Rittangel (1641); antiquities, by Samuel Bochart (d. 1667), Hottinger (d. 1667), Hyde (d. 1700), Trigland (d. 1705), Breithaupt (1707), and Johann Jakob Schudt (d. 1722). It was a time in which the Christian theologian studied Hebrew and rabbinics before taking up his specific theological study. Hackspan (d. 1659) wrote upon the value to the theologian of studying the works of the Rabbis. Their writings on the Bible were read by Schickard (1635), Hody (d. 1706), and Richard Simon (d. 1712), while catalogues of Hebrew collections were published by Plantavitius (d. 1651), Le Long (d. 1721), and Montfaucon (d. 1741). Hottinger gave this literature a place in his Bibliotheca Orientalis; Otho (1672) wrote a biographical lexicon of the Mishnah teachers; and Bartolocci's Bibliotheca Rabbinica (1675) was a worthy continuation of these bibliographical labors.

Eighteenth century

The first half of the 18th century contains the names of three important scholars. Jacques Basnage knew no Hebrew, but his L'Histoire de la Religion des Juifs was the first attempt at a complete presentation of the history of Judaism. The Entdecktes Judenthum of Eisenmenger (d.1704) exhibits a mass of Jewish learning. Johann Christoph Wolf (d. 1739), who, with the help of the Oppenheimer library, was able to produce his Bibliotheca Hebræa, which laid the foundation for all later works in Hebrew bibliography.

Johann Christian Georg Bodenschatz (d. 1797), though not a scholarly Hebraist, gave an accurate account of Jewish ceremonials. By the side of these stand Bashuysen (d. 1750), the translator and printer of Hebrew books; Reland (d. 1718), the first to use Talmudic material for the study of the geography of Palestine; the bibliographers Unger (d. 1719) and Gagnier (d. 1720), who gave Wolf his information regarding the manuscripts in the Bodleian; J. H. Michaelis (d. 1738) and Mai (d. 1732), who compiled a catalogue of the Uffenbach library; Baratier (d. 1740), the youthful prodigy, who wrote on Benjamin of Tudela; Mill (d. 1756), who treated rabbinical exegesis; and Wähner (1762), who described Hebrew antiquities. Biagio Ugolini (1744) is said to have been a converted Jew, and therefore finds no place here. Especial mention should be made of Ezra Stiles, the learned president of Yale College (1778), certainly the most learned Christian student of post-Biblical Jewish literature that America has produced.

Early nineteenth century

Toward the end of the 18th century such friends of Hebrew literature became ever rarer. The rise of Biblical criticism and of the study of other Semitic languages engaged the whole interest of Semitic scholars.

Even Rabe, the translator of the Mishnah into German (d. 1798), Semmler, Michaelis, Tychsen (d. 1815), and Sylvestre de Sacy (d. 1838) can hardly be mentioned by the side of the humanists of previous centuries. Interest in the text of the Bible caused some work to be done in the collecting of Hebrew manuscripts, especially by Benjamin Kennicott in England (1776–80) and Giovanni Bernardo De Rossi in Italy (1784–88). The last-named made a valuable collection of Hebrew manuscripts; and by his side may be mentioned Joseph Pasinus (or Giuseppe Passini) in Turin (d. 1749), Antonio Maria Biscioni in Florence (d. 1752), Assemani in Rome (d. 1756), and Ury in Oxford (d. 1787).

At the Universities

The downward trend continued in the first half of the 19th century; Jewish literature became less and less a subject of investigation by Christians; and when it was studied it was generally for the purpose of forging weapons against the people whose literature it was. This is seen in such works as A. T. Hartmann's Thesaurus Linguæ Hebr. c Mischna Augendi (1825), in Winer's Biblisches Real Wörterbuch, and even in the works of Hitzig and Ewald. There was no understanding even of the period of Jewish history during which Christianity arose and developed; and David Strauss's complaint in regard to this was only too well founded.

During the second half of the 19th century, however, the idea gained currency that there was something to be learned by going back to the sources of this history; but only a very few of the universities made a place for this study in their curricula. At the beginning of the 18th century David Rudolph of Liegnitz included Rabbinisch und Chaldäisch among the Oriental languages which he taught at Heidelberg; but he had few imitators; and in the 19th century, apart from a few stray courses, such as Emil Kautzsch's on Kimhi at Tübingen, Lagarde's on Al-Ḥarizi at Göttingen, and Strack's on the Mishnah at Berlin, the whole of rabbinic literature was ignored by European universities.

Honorable exceptions in this respect were furnished in the universities of Oxford (where A. Cowley was sublibrarian of the Bodleian Library) and Cambridge (which has produced such scholars as W. H. Lowe, Matthews, and Charles Taylor) in England, and in Columbia University, the University of California, the University of Chicago, Harvard University, and Johns Hopkins University, in America. The Jews had been allowed to work out by themselves the new Jewish science (Jüdische Wissenschaft), little attention being paid to that work by others.

In more recent times Christian scholars have given Jewish literature their attention. Abbé Pietro Perreau has done good service by his many articles on the literature of the Jews in the Middle Ages and by the assistance he has given to scholars from the Hebrew manuscripts at Parma; Martin Hartmann has translated and commentated the "Meteḳ Sefatayim" of Immanuel Frances (Berlin, 1894); Thomas Robinson has collected some good material in his The Evangelists and the Mishna (1859). August Wünsche, in his "Erläuterung der Evangelien aus Midrasch und Talmud" (1878), enlarged the scope of the inquiry begun by Lightfoot; and his translations from the Midrash opened up the stores of ancient Jewish exegesis. Weber's System der Altsynagogalen Palestinischen Theologie (1880) was, with all its failings, an honest attempt to understand the theology of the Synagogue, followed by Wilhelm Bousset in his Religiondes Judenthums im Neutestamentlichen Zeitalter (1903). Dom Pedro II, King of Brazil, should also be mentioned for his publication of Provençal Jewish poetry.

Late 19th century

The Institutum Judaicum in Leipzig, founded by Franz Delitzsch, and a similar society bearing the same name in Berlin and founded by Hermann Strack, have attempted, by their various publications, to diffuse in the Christian world a knowledge of Jewish writings. Gustav Dalman has shown by his philological works on Talmudic grammar and lexicography that he is at home in the rabbinic writings. Hermann Strack in Berlin demands special mention not only for his publications dealing with the literature of the Mishnah and the Talmud, but also on account of the fearless manner in which he has combated anti-Semitic prejudice, drawing his material directly from the original sources. Carl Siegfried, in his yearly reports in the Theologischer Jahresbericht, for many years called attention to publications on Jewish subjects, and the mention of such works in the Orientalische Bibliographie has served to bring them more closely to the attention of Christian scholars. The roll of Christian Hebraists in England includes the names of J. W. Etheridge, the author of a popular Introduction to [post-Biblical] Hebrew Literature (1856); Thomas Chenery, translator of Legends from the Midrash (1877), and editor of Al-Ḥarizi's translation of Ḥariri; and W. H. Lowe, who edited the Palestinian recension of the Mishnah.

In spite, however, of these facts and of the warning given by Lagarde (Symmicta, ii. 147; Mittheilungen, ii. 165), that in order to understand the Bible text itself a deep study of the Halakah is necessary, Christian writers on the life of Jesus continue their disregard of the primary sources. This may be seen in Hausrath's Neutestamentliche Zeitgeschichte (Kaufmann Gedenkbuch, p. 659), and even in Schürer (Gesch.), who, though making a great advance upon previous efforts, still relies upon second-hand sources for many of the pictures that he draws (see Abrahams in "J. Q. R." xi. 628). Adolph Harnack, who, in his Dogmengeschichte (3d ed.), endeavors to do some justice to the rabbis of old, in his Wesen des Christenthums (1900), sustains potential historical inaccuracies from a perhaps selective review of Jewish literature of the relevant period, possibly most noticeable in a lack of regard for the Jewish literature and history during the most recent eighteen hundred years^[1].

List of Christian Hebraists

The following list of Christian Hebraists is taken from the Jewish Encyclopedia (1906), compiled upon the basis of Steinschneider's article mentioned in the bibliography below. Christian students of the Bible more generally were not included, as they may be found in other articles.

Contents: Top · 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

• Aarhus, Peter Sim. (c. 1711; Hafen ?).
• Abicht, Jo. Ge. (d. 1740; Wittenberg).
• Adler, Jac. Ge Chr. (d. 1805; Copenhagen).
• Ægidius de Viterbo (1471–1532; Italy).
• Alfonso de Leon Zamora (16th cent.).
• Allixius, Petrus (17th cent.; Alençon).
• Alting, Jacob (17th cent.; Gröningen).
• Anchersen, Matthias (d. 1741; Jutland).
• Anslus, Gerebrard (17th cent.).
• Arias Montanus (Benedictine; d. 1598; Seville).
• Armengaud (?), Blasius (d. 1314; Montpellier).
• Arnd, Joshua (c. 1626; Güstrow).
• Arnoldus, Michael (c. 1680; Holland).
• Asp, Matth. (1696–1763; Upsala).
• Assemani, Simon (d. 1821; Padua).
• Aubry, Esaias (c. 1730; Berlin ?).

B

• Bacon, Roger (1214–94; Oxford).
• Baldi, Bernardino (1553–1617; Urbino).
• Baratier, Johann Philipp/Jean-Phillipe (1721–40; Schwabach).
• Barozzi, Francesco (d. 1587; Italy).
• Bartolocci, Giulio (1613–87; Rome).
• Heinrich Jacob Bashuysen (1679–1750; Hanau).
• Baynus, Rudolphus (c. 1554; Paris).
• Beckmann, Jo. Christ. (c. 1677; Frankfurt-an-der-Oder).
• Becks, Matth. Frid. (1649–1701; Augsburg).
• Bedwell, William (1561–1632; London).
• Beelen, Ian Theodor (c. 1841; Amsterdam).
• Beke, Matth. (c. 1708; Amsterdam).
• Bellermann, Johann Joachim (1754–1842; Erfurt).
• Bengel (?), Eric (c. 1692; Sweden).
• Bernard, Edward (1638–96; Oxford).
• Bircherode, Jan. (1623–86; Copenhagen).
• Biscioni, Anton. Maria (1674–1756; Florence).
• Philipp Johann Bleibtreu (c. 1699; Frankfort-on-the-Main).
• Bodecker, Stephan (Bishop; c. 1438; Brandenburg).
• Bohlius, Sam. (1611–89; Rostock).
• Borel, Adam, Jun. (1603–67; Zealand).
• Böschenstein (?), Jo. (b. 1472; Austria).
• Bourdelot (c. 1619; Paris).
• Breithaupt, Joh. Fred. (1639–1713; Gotha).
• Brighenti, Gio. Ant. (d. 1702; Verona).
• Broughton, Hugh (1549–1612; Tottenham).
• Buddaeus, Jo. Fr. (Johann Franz Buddeus) (1667–1729; Halle?).
• Burgonovo, Archangelus (Minorite; 16th cent.; Pozzo).
• Buxtorf, Johannes I. (1564–1629; Basel).
• Buxtorf, Johannes II. (1599–1664; Basel).
• Buxtorf, Johannes Jakob (1645–1705; Basel).
• Buxtorf, Johannes Jakob (1663–1732; Basel).

C

• Cademannus, Jos. Rud. (Johann Rudolf Cademann) (1680–1720; Pegau).
• Campen, Joh. van (John van Campen) (1490–1538; Freiburg-im-Breisgau).
• Caninius, Angelus (1521–57; Paris).
• Cappellan, Claud. (d. 1667; Paris).
• Carpzov, Johann (Benedictine; 1639–99; Leipzig).
• Cartwright, Christopher (1602–58; York).
• Castell, Edmund (1606–85; Higham Gobion).
• Castro, Joh. Rodriguez de (1739–96; Madrid).
• Cellarius (?), Jo. (c. 1518).
• Chenery, Thomas (1826–84; London).
• Chevalier, Antoine Rodolphe (1523–1572); France).
• Chiarini, Luigi (Abbé; 1789–1832; Warsaw).
• Christmann, Jac. (1554–1613; Heidelberg).
• Chytraeus, D. (c. 1551).
• Ciselius, Phil. (c. 1696; Franeker).
• Clanner (J. G. ?) (c. 1726 ?).
• Clark, Sam. (c. 1657; Oxford).
• Clavering, Robert (Bishop; 1671–1747; Peterborough).
• Clodius, Jo. Chr. (d. 1633; Leipzig).
• Cluverus, Jo. (17th cent.).
• Cnollen, Adam Andreas (1674–1714; Füth).
• Cnollen, Jos. Nicol. (brother of preceding).
• Coccejus (Koch), Jo. (1603–69; Leyden).
• Coddaeus, Giul. (Wilhelmus van der Codde) (1575–1630; Leyden).
• Collin, C. E. (c. 1705; Giessen).
• Collins, G. (c. 1890; Oxford).
• Costus, Petrus (c. 1554).
• Cotta, Johann Friedrich (1701–79; Tübingen).
• Cramer, Johann Jakob (1673–1702; Zürich).
• Cramer, Johann Rudolf (1678–1731; Zürich).
• Crenius, Thom. (1648–1728; Leyden).
• Crocius, Lud. Mich. (c. 1673).
• Croius (?), Jo. (18th cent.; Oxford).

D

• Dachs, Fried. Bernh. (c. 1726; Utrecht).
• Dalmaki, Laurentius (c. 1643; Hunga).
• Danz, Jo. Andr. (1654–1728; Jena).
• Dassovius, Theod. (d. 1721; Wittenberg; Kiel).
• Disma, P. (c. 1757; Italy).
• Dithmar, Just. Christ. (c. 1706; Holland?).
• Donatus, Franc. (d. 1635; Rome).
• Dove, John (c. 1746; London).
• Johannes van den Driesche, "Drusius" (1550–1616; Leyden).
• Drusius, Jo. II. (son of preceding; 1588–1609; Chichester).

E

• Adam Easton (Benedictine; d. 1397; Hereford)
• Ebertus, Jac. (1549–1614; Frankfort-on-the-Oder).
• Ebertus, Theod. (d. 1630; Frankfort-on-the-Oder).
• Eggers, Jo. (c. 1719; Basel; Leyden).
• Einem, Jo. Justus von (c. 1738; Germany).
• Eisenmenger, Joh. And. (1654–1704; Heidelberg).
• Empereur, Constantin l' (1570–1648; Leyden).
• Etheridge, J. W. (c. 1856; Penzance).

F

• Fabricius, Ern. Christ. (c. 1792).
• Fabricius, Fred. (1642–1703; Wittenberg).
• Fabricius, Johann Albert (1668–1736),
• Fagius Paul(us) (1504–49; Cambridge).
• Faust, Jo. Friedr. (c. 1706; Germany).
• Ferrand, Lud. (c. 1640-1700; Paris).
• Figueiro, Petrusa (c. 1615).
• Fourmont, Étienne, the elder (1683–1745; Paris).
• Franciscus, Maria (Capuchin).
• Franck, Sebastian (c. 1537; Ulm).
• Francke, August Hermann (1663–1727)
• Frey, Jo. Ludw. (1682–1759; Basel).
• Frommann, Erh. Andr. (1722–74; Monastery of Berge, Magdeburg).
• Fronmüller, Conrad (c. 1679; Altdorf?).
• Fuller, Nicol. (1557–1626; Salisbury).

G

• Gaffarellus, Jacobus/Jacques Gaffarel (1601–81).
• Gagnier, Joseph (1670–1740; Oxford).
• Galatinus, Petrus/Galatino, Pietro Colonna (c. 1518).
• Galle, Joh. (c. 1711; Upsala).
• Gaudia, Barthol. Valverdio (Spain).
• Gaulmyn, Gilb. (d. 1667; France).
• Gejerus, Martin (1614–80; Freiberg).
• Genebrard, Gilbert (1537–97; Samur).
• Georgius Gentius (1618–87; Freiberg).
• Georgios, Chrysococca (1340-56? Greece).
• Germberg, Herm. (1604).
• Giggeius, Ant. (d. 1632; Milan).
• Gill, John (1697–1771; London).
• Graser, Conrad (d. 1613; Germany).
• Groddeck, Gaḅr. (1672–1709; Danzig).
• Guidacerius (Guidacier), Agathius (c. 1540).
• Guisius, Gulielmus (1653–90; Oxford).

H

• Hackspan, Theodor (1607–59; Altdorf).
• Haller, Albert (1708–77; Bern)
• Hanel, Melchior (c. 1661; Prague)
• Hannecken, Meno (1595–1677; Marburg
• Hardt, Anton Jul. van der (1707–85; Helmstädt)
• Hardt, Herm. van der (1660–1746; Helmstädt).
• Hartmann, Anton Theodor (1774–1838; Rostock).
• Hartmann, Jo. Phil. (c. 1708).
• Hartmann, Martin (1851; living; Berlin).
• Havemann, Chris. (17th cent.).
• Hebenstreit, Johann Chr. (1686–1756; Leipsic).
• Helenius, Engelbart (c. 1727; Sweden).
• Helvig, Christoph (1581–1617; Giessen).
• Hepburn, James Bonaventure (1573–1621; Scotland).
• Hilpert, Jo. (c. 1651).
• Hinckelmann, Alr. (1652–95; Hamburg).
• Hirt, Jo. Frid. (1719–84; Wittenberg).
• Hochsteter, Andreas Adam (1668–1717; Tübingen).
• Holten, Albert (c. 1675; Tübingen).
• Hommel, Car. Ferd. (1722–81; Leipsic).
• Honorius (Monk; 1452).
• Hottinger, Johann Heinrich I. (1620–67; Heidelberg).
• Hottinger, Jo. Henr. II. (c. 1704).
• Houting, Henr. (c. 1695).
• Hufnagel, G. F. (c. 1795).
• Huldrich, Jo. Jac. (1683–1731).
• Hulsius, Anton (d. 1685; Holland).
• Husen, Franc. (c. 1676).
• Hyde, Thomas (1631–1703; Oxford).

I, J, K

• Ikenius, Conrad (1689–1753; Bremen).
• Imbonatus, Carlus Josephus/Carlo Giuseppe Imbonati (d. 1696; Rome).
• Jacobs, Henry (1608–52; Oxford).
• Janvier, Renatus Ambros. (1613–82; Paris).
• Johannes Lucæ (1406; Italy).
• Franciscus Junius (the elder)
• Justinianus, Augustin (1470–1531; "Episcopus Nebiensis").
• Keller, Gottl. Wilh. (17th cent.; Jena [?]).
• Kircher, Athanasius (Jesuit; 1602–80; Rome).
• Knorr, Christian, Baron de Rosenroth (1636–89; Sulzbach).
• Koccher, Herrm. Fried. (c. 1783; Jena).
• König, Friedrich Eduard (1846; Reichenbach).
• König, Sam. (1670–1750; Bern).
• Köppen, Nic. (c. 1709; Greifswald).
• Kosegarten, Johann Gottfried Ludwig (1792–1860; Greifswald).
• Krafft, Karl (c. 1839; Ansbach).
• Kraut, Paul (c. 1703; Lund).
• Kyber, David (16th cent.; Strasburg?).

L

• Lagarde, Paul de (1827–91; Göttingen).
• Lakemacher, Joh. Gothofr. (1695–1736; Helmstädt).
• Lange, Jo. Joachim (1670–1744; Halle).
• Lange, W. (c. 1710).
• Langens, Henr. (c. 1720; Holland).
• Lederlin, Jo. Henr. (1672–1737; Strasburg).
• Lehmann, Ge. Heinrich (1619–99; Leipsic).
• Leib, Chilian (Prior; 1471–1548; Rebdorf).
• Le Long, Jac. (1665–1721; Paris).
• Lenz, Jo. Leonh. (c. 1700; Germany).
• Lepusculus, Sebastian (c. 1516; Germany).
• Leusden, Johann (1624–99; Utrecht).
• Leydecker, Melchior (1642–1722; Utrecht, put on Index Librorum Prohibitorum by the Catholic Church).
• Lightfoot, John (1602–75; Ely).
• Lipomanni, Marco (c. 1440; Venice).
• Loscan, Joh. Frid. (c. 1710; Germany).
• Losius, Jo. Justus (c. 1706; Germany).
• Lowe, W. H. (Cambridge).
• Ludwig, Christ. L. (b. 1663, Landshut; d. 1732).
• Lund, Dan. (b. 1666, Fogdoë; d. 1746, Strengnäs).

M

• McCaul, Alexander (b. 1799, Dublin; d. 1863, London).
• Mai, Joh. Hen. (1688–1732; Giessen).
• Malamina, Cæsar (c. 1774; Florence).
• Manfred (?), King (d. 1266; Germany).
• Mannetti, Giannozzo (b. 1396, Florence; d. 1459, Naples).
• Margoliouth, David Samuel (1858–1940) Oxford).
• Margoliouth, G. (living; London).
• Margoliouth, Moses (b. 1820, Suwałki; d. 1881, London).
• Marini, Marco (b. 1541, Brescia; d. 1594, Brescia).
• Matthias Aquarius (c. 1581).
• Matthias, Elias (Germany)
• Meelführer, Rud. Martin (b. 1670, Ansbach; d. 1729).
• Mercer, Jo. (d. 1570; Uzès).
• Meyer, Jo. (c. 1693; Holland).
• Michaelis, Johann David (1717–1791)
• Michaelis, Johann Heinrich (1668–1738)
• Midhorp, Joh. (c. 1562).
• Mieg, Jo. Frid. (b. 1700, Marburg; d. 1788, Heidelberg).
• Mill, David (b. 1692, Königsberg; d. 1756, Utrecht).
• Millard, Alan
• Molitor, Christoph. (c. 1659; Altdorf).
• Bernard de Montfaucon (b. 1655, Soulange; d. 1741, Paris).
• Moré, Eugène (c. 1837; France).
• More, Henry (b. 1614, Grantham; d. 1687, Cambridge).
• Morin, Etienne (b. 1625, Caen; d. 1700, Amsterdam).
• Morin, Jean (b. 1591, Blois; d. 1659, Paris).
• Muhl, Henr. (b. 1666, Bremen; d. c. 1730, Kiel).
• Muhl, Jos. (Holstein).
• Muis, Simon de (b. 1587, Orléans; d. 1644, Paris).
• Münster, Sebastian (Minorite; b. 1489, Ingelheim; d. 1552, Basel).
• Murner, Thomas (Minorite; b. 1475; d. 1537?).
• Myerlin, David Fr. (d. 1778; Frankfort-on-the-Main).

N, O

• Nagel, Jo. Andr. Mich. (1740–1788; Altdorf).
• Neale, Thomas (1569-1569; Regius Professors of Hebrew: Oxford, England).
• Nicholas Of Lyra (Nicolaus Lyranus) (c. 1270–1349; Paris).
• Nigri (Schwartz), Peter (c. 1475; Cadana?).
• Fr. Nork (1803–50; Germany [actually Fr. Korn]).
• Norrelius, Andr. (c. 1720; Upsala).
• Novenianus, Phil. (?) (c. 1520; Hasfurtensis?).
• Odhelius, Laur. (d. 1691; Upsala).
• Opfergeld, Friedrich (1668–1746; Breslau).
• Opitius, Paul Friedr. (1684–1745; Kiel).
• Osterbröck, Aaggaens.
• Otho, Jo. Henr. (d. 1719; Lausanne).
• Ouserl, Phil. (c. 1714; Frankfort-on-the Main).
• Owmann, Mart. Jac. (c. 1705; Germany).

P, Q

• Pagninus, Xanthus/?Santes Pagnini (b. 1470, Lucca; d. 1536, Lyon).
• Palmroot, Jo. (c. 1696; Upsala).
• Pasinus, Jos. (b. 1687, Padua; d. 1770, Turin).
• Pastritius, Jo.
• Dom Pedro II (Emperor of Brazil; 1825–91).
• Pellikan, Konrad (1478–1556; Zürich).
• Peringer, Gustav (b. 1657; Upsala; Stockholm).
• Peritz, Ismar J. (living; Syracuse, U. S. A.).
• Perreau, Pietro (Abbé; living, Parma).
• Pertsch, W. H. F. (c. 1720; Jena).
• Peter of St. Omer (1296; Paris).
• Petit, Pietro Giov, de (d. 1740; Rome).
• Petrus de Alexandrica (Augustinian; 1342).
• Petrus Montagnana (?) (1478; Italy).
• Pfeiffer, August (b. 27 October 1640, Lauenburg an der Elbe; d. 11 January 1698, Lübeck^[2])
• Pico de la Mirandola (d. 1494; Italy).
• Picques, L. (c. 1670; Paris).
• Pistorius, Jo. Nidanus (b. 1544, Nidda; d. 1607, Freiburg im Breisgau).
• Plantavitius, Johannes/Jean VI. Plantavit de la Pause (Bishop; 1625–48; Lodève).
• Plato of Tivoli (Plato Tiburtinus, 1116; Barcelona).
• Pontacus, Arnold (Bishop; d. 1605; Bazas).
• Postel, Guillaume. (b. 1505. Delorie; d. 1581, Paris).
• Prache, Hilaric (b. 1614, Teutschel; d. 1679, London).
• Prideaux, Humphrey (Dean; b. 1648, Padstow; d. 1724, Norwich).
• Quinquaboreus (Cinqarbre), Johannes (d. 1587; Paris).

R

• Rabe, Joh. Jac. (1710–98; Ansbach).
• Rapheleng, Franc. (b. 1539; Lannoy).
• Raymund Martin/Ramón Martí (Monk; c. 1286).
• Raymund de Peñaforte (Dominican; 1175–1275; Barcelona).
• Reineccius, Chr. (b. 1668, Großmühlingen; d. 1752, Weißenfels).
• Reiske, Johann Jakob (b. 1716, Zörbig; d. 1774, Leipzig).
• Reland, Adrian (b. 1676, Ryp; d. 1718, Utrecht).
• Rendtorf, Jo. (Hamburg).
• Reuchlin, Johann (b. 1455, Pforzheim; d. 1522, Stuttgart).
• Rezzonius, Franc. (b. 1731, Como; d. 1780).
• Rhegius, Urbanus (c. 1535; Celle).
• Rhenferdius, Jac. (b. 1654, Mühlheim; d. 1712, Franeker).
• Ritmeier, Chr. Henr. (c. 1697).
• Rivinius, Tileman Andreas (b. 1601, Halle; d. 1656, Leipzig).
• Robustellus, Jo. (1655; Rome).
• Rönnow, Magn. (d. 1690).
• Rossi, Giovanni Bernardo de (1742–1831; Parma).

S

• Sacy, Isaac Silvestre de (1758–1838; Paris).
• Salchli (?), Jo. Jac. (b. 1694, Eggwil; d. 1774, Bern).
• Sartorius, Jo. (b. 1656, Eperies; d. 1729, Danzig).
• Saubert, Jo. (1638–88; Helmstädt).
• Scheidt, Balth. (1614–70; Strasburg).
• Scherping, Jacob (c. 1737; Stockholm).
• Scherzer, Jo. Adam (b. 1628, Eger; d. 1683, Leipzig).
• Schickard, Wilhelm (b. 1592, Herrenberg; d. 1635, Tübingen).
• Schindler, Valentin (d. 1604; Wittenberg; Helmstädt).
• Schmidt, Sebastian (c. 1656; Strasburg).
• Schnelle, Sebald (1621–51; Nuremberg).
• Schoettgen, Jo. Christ. (1687–1751).
• Scholl, J. C. F. (Tübingen).
• Schotanus, Christ. (b. 1603, Scheng; d. 1671, Franeker).
• Schramm, Jonas Conr. (c. 1700; Helmstädt).
• Schreckenfuchs, Erasmus Oswald (1511–75; Tübingen).
• Schroeder, Jo. Joachim (1680–1756; Marburg).
• Schulten, Albert (1686–1750; Holland).
• Schulten, Car. (c. 1725; Lund).
• Schulten, Heinrich Albert (1749–93; Holland).
• Schulten, Jo. Jac. (1716–78; Holland).
• Schwenter, Daniel (1585–1636; Nuremberg).
• Scotus, Jo. Duns (d. 1308, Scotland).
• Sebastianus, Aug. Nouzanus (c. 1532; Marburg).
• Seidel, Casp. (c. 1638; Hamburg).
• Seiferheld, J. L. (18th cent.).
• Seyfried, Christ. (c. 1664).
• Seyfried, Henr. (c. 1663; Altdorf).
• Sgambatus, Scipio (c. 1703; Italy).
• Sheringham, Robert (b. 1602, Guestwick; d. 1678, Cambridge).
• Siegfried, Carl (b. 1830, Magdeburg; d. Jena).
• Smith, Thomas (b. 1638, London; d. 1710).
• Sommer, Gottfr. Chris. (c. 1734; Gotha).
• Sonneschmid, Jo. Just. (c. 1719; Jena?).
• Spalding, G. L. (b. 1762, Barth; d. 1811, Friedrichsfelde).
• Sprecher, Jo. Died. (c. 1703; Helmstädt).
• Springer, Daniel (1656–1708; Breslau).
• Staemmen, Christoph. van (c. 1661; Preza-Holsatus?).
• Starke, Heinrich Benedict (b. 1672, Engelen; d. 1717, Leipsic).
• Steinmetz, Joh. Andr. (b. 1689, Gr. Knicymtzd; d. 1762).
• Strack, Herrmann L. (living; Berlin).
• Stridzberg, Nic. H. (c. 1731; Lund).
• Struvius, Jo. Jul. (c. 1697; Germany).
• Surenhuys, Willem (d. 1729; Amsterdam).
• Svetonio, Agost. (Italy).

T

• Charles Taylor (scholar)
• Francis Taylor (1589-1656)
• Johannes Terentius, or Terrentius, (Jean Schreck), Swiss Jesuit (b. 1580, Constance; d. 1630, China).
• Theobald (?) (Subprior; 14th cent.; Paris).
• Trigland, Jacobus (d. 1705; Leyden).
• Tychsen, Oluf Gerhard (1734–1815; Rostock).

U

• Ulmann, Jo. (c. 1663; Strasburg).
• Urbanus Henricus Rhegius (Urbanus Rhegius) (c. 1535; Celle).
• Ury, Jo. (d. 1796; Oxford).
• Cnaeus Cornelius Uythage (c. 1680; Leyden)

V

• Bartolomè Valverde y Gandìa (Bartholomaeus Valverdius (Spain)
• Varen, Aug. (d. 1684; Rostock).
• Vatablé/Watebled, François (d. 1547; Paris).
• Vehe, Matthias (d.1590).
• Vinding, Jo. Paul (c. 1633; Holland ?).
• Voorst, Dick Cornelis van (b. 1751, Delft; d. 1833, Amsterdam).
• Voss, Dionysius (b. 1612, Dordrecht; d. 1633, Amsterdam).
• Voysin (Vicinus), Jos. de (c. 1635; Paris).

W

• Wagenseil, Johann Christoph (1635–1703; Altdorf).
• Wakefield, Robert (d. 1537; Oxford).
• Wallin, Georg (c. 1722; Holm).
• Walter, Jo. (c. 1710).
• Walther, Christ. (c. 1705; Königsberg).
• Warner, Levin (d. 1663; Holland).
• Weiganmeier, Georg (1555–99; Tübingen).
• Wessel, Joh. (John Wessel Goesport) (b. 1419, Groningen; d. 1489).
• Widmannstetter, Johann Albrecht (b. 1500; d. 1559, Wellingen).
• Wilkins, David (b. 1685; d. 1748, Hadleigh).
• Winckler, Jo. Fried. (b. 1679, Wertheim; d. 1738, Germany).
• Winer, Jo. Ge. Bened. (1789–1858; Leipsic).
• Witter, Henr. Bernh. (c. 1703; Germany).
• Woeldicke, Marcus (1699–1750; Copenhagen).
• Wolf (?), Georg (c. 1557; Grimma).
• Wolf, Jo. Christoph. (1688–1739; Hamburg).
• Wolf, Jo. W. (d. 1571; Gera).
• Wolph (?), Jo. Hac. (Zürich).
• Wotton, William (1666–1720; London).
• Johann Wülfer (1651–1724; Nuremberg).
• Wünsche, August (living; Dresden)

Z

• Zanolini, Antonio (1693–1762; Padua).
• Andreas Christoph Zeller (c. 1711; Maulbronn).
• Gustav Georg Zeltner (1672–1738; Altdorf).

Female Christian Hebraists

• Alberta Katherina (17th cent.; Bohemia).
• Amoena Amalia (wife of Duke Louis; d. 1625, Anhalt).
• Anna Sophia, Abbess (c. 1658; Quedlinburg).
• Anna (Weissbrucker) Urban (16th. cent.).
• Antonia, Duchess (d. 1679; Württemberg).
• Blesilla (5th cent.).
• Calonges, Madame de.
• Cibo—? (wife of Joh. Verano, Duke of Camerino; 1550).
• Cornaro, Piscopia Cornelia (Eleonora Lucretia; (1646–1684) ; Venice).
• Cramer, Anna Maria (1613–27; Magdeburg).
• Dorothea Maria (wife of Duke John; 17th cent.; Saxe-Weimar).
• Einsiedel, Marg. Sybilla (wife of Conrad Löser; c. 1670; Saxony).
• Elisabeth (Abbess of Herfort; d. 1680).
• Eustochium Julia (5th cent.; Rome).
• Friesen, Henr. Kath. (17th cent.; Saxony).
• Guyenne, De (c. 1625; Paris).
• Habert, Susanna (d. 1633; France).
• Lehmann, Maria Barbara (c. 1700; Schnekengrün).
• Losa, Isabella (d. 1564; Cordova).
• Princess Louise Amoena (Princess; 17th cent.; Anhalt).
• Ludolf, Susanna Magdalena (c. 1700; Frankfort-on-the-Main).
• Marchina, Martha (d. 1646; Naples).
• Maria Eleonore (wife of Ludwig Philipp of Pfalz; c. 1669).
• Maria Elizabeth (daughter of Duke Christian Albrecht; c. 1706; Schleswig-Holstein).
• Molinaea, Maria (17th cent.).
• Molza-Porrino, Tarquinia (d. 1600; Modena).
• Paula, Cornelia (d. 408; Rome).
• Rohan, Anna, Princess of (c. 1634).
• Saracena, Ludovica (wife of Marcus Offredus; c. 1606; France).
• Schurman, Anna Maria (1607–78; Altona).
• Sebutia, Cæcilia (c. 1683; Rome).
• Sigæa, Aloysa (wife of Alfonso du Guevas; d. 1569; Toledo).
• Tanfeld, Elisabeth (d. 1639; London).
• Wagenseil, Helena Sybilla (c. 1700; Altendorf).

Bibliography and references

• This article incorporates text from the 1901–1906 Jewish Encyclopedia article "Christian Hebraist" by Richard Gottheil, a publication now in the public domain.

Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography

• Moritz Steinschneider, Christliche Hebraisten, in Zeit. für Hebr. Bibl. i. 50 et seq.;
• Gesenius, Gesch. der Hebr. Sprache, passim, Leipsic, 1815;
• Zunz, Z. G. pp. 1 et seq. (re-published in G. S. i. 41 et seq.);
• L. Geiger, Studium der Hebraisch Sprache in Deutschland, Breslau, 1870;
• J. Perles, Beiträge zur Geschichte der Hebraisch und Aramaisch Studien, pp. 154 et seq.;
• Meyer Kayserling, Les Hébraisants Chrétiens, in R. E. J. xx. 264 et seq.;
• Kaufmann, Die Vertretung der Jüden Wissenschaft an den Universitäten, in Monatsschrift, xxxix. 145 et seq.;
• S. A. Hirsch, Early English Hebraists, in J. Q. R. xii. 34 et seq.;
• Kauffmann, Jacob Mantino, in R. E. J. xxvii. 30 et seq. (comp. J. Q. R. ix. 500);
• E. Sachau, Orientalische Philologie, in Die Deutschen Universitäten, p. 520, Berlin, 1893;
• William Rosenau, Semitic Studies in American Colleges, Chicago, 1896;
• Moritz Steinschneider, Hebr. Bibl. xx. 65 et seq.;
• Kayserling, A Princess as Hebraist, in J. Q. R. ix. 509.G.

1. ^ Felix Perles, Was Lehrt Uns Harnack?' Frankfurt-am-Main (1902)
2. ^ Cf. August Pfeiffer (Poet), retrieved on 22 April 2010.

External links

• Christian Hebraists in the Netherlands
• Hebraic Aspects of the Renaissance: Sources and Encounters (Leiden, 2011)