WOBO: Search for words and phrases in the texts here...

, a Portuguese Jew, though Arnaud thinks him a Christian, joined with Tobias Athias in giving a Spanish translation of the Bible in the 16th century. The title of this famous version is as follows: “Biblia en lengua Espagnola, traduzida palabra por palabra de la verdad Hebraica, por mui excel lentes letrados, en Ferrara,” 1553, folio, in gothic characters. Though the nouns and the verbs are translated according to the strictest rules of grammar, this translation is looked upon as nothing more than a compilation from Kimchi, Rasci, Abenezra, ‘ the Chaldee paraphrast, and some ancient Spanish glosses. This version is extremely rare, and much sought after. Another edition has been made for the use of the Spanish Christians, which is neither less scarce nor less inquired for. The curious are desirous of having both, in order, to. compare them together. Notwithstanding their apparent conformity, the discrepancies are very observable in the various interpretations of several passages, according to the belief of those for whom they were printed. The version for the use of the Jews, which is the most in request, is addressed to sennora Græcia Naci, with the subscription d’Athias and d‘Usque; the other is dedicated to Hercules d’Est, and signed by Jerome de Vargas and Duarte Pinel.

was a Franciscan, and professor of the Hebrew language at Rome, but we have no other information respecting his personal history. He published at Rome in 1621, a “Concordance of the Bible,” which consisted of four great volumes in folio. This work, which is properly a concordance of Hebrew words, has been highly approved and commended by both papists and protestants. Besides the Hebrew words in the Bible, which are in the body of the book, with the Latin version over against them, there are in the margin the differences between the Septuagint version and the Vulgate; so that at one view may be seen wherein the three Bibles agree, and wherein they differ; and at the beginning of every article there is a kind of dictionary, which gives the signification of each Hebrew word, and affords an opportunity of comparing it with other oriental languages, viz. wifch the Syriac, Arabic, and Chaldee; whichjs extremely useful for determining more exactly the true meaning of the Hebrew words. The plan of this Hebrew concordance was takea from a concordance of rabbi Nathan, which was printed first at Venice, and afterwards at Basil, much augmented by rabbi Mordochee. Calasio’s concordance was published in London by Romaine, Rowe Mores, and Lutzena, a Portuguese Jew, 1747, 4 vols, folio; but very incorrectly, as it is said and the fidelity of the principal editor, who was a follower of Hutchinson, has upon that account been suspected, probably without justice, but it is certain- that the learned give the preference to the old edition.

Hermolaus’s Abridgment was first printed at the Aldine press in 1502, folio; and other editions followed of the Greek only. Pinedo, a Portuguese Jew, was the first who published a Greek and Latin edition, Amst. 1678, folio; but some copies have a new title-page with the date 1725. In the mean time, Berkelius had begun his labours on this author, and had published at Leyden in 1674, 8vo, the fragment above mentioned, which Ternulius had printed in 1669, 4tu; and to this Berkelius added a Latin translation and commentary, the Periplus of Hanno, and the monument of Adulis. In 1681 James Gronovius published a new edition of this fragment, with a triple Latin version and notes, reprinted, and somewhat more correctly, by Montfaucon in his “Bibliotheca Cosliniana.” Ryckius also published the posthumous remarks of Lucas Holsteniuson Stephanusof Byzantium, at Leyden, 1684, folio. At length Berkelius closed his labours by sending to the press at Leyden his Greek and Latin edition in 1688, folio. In this he gave a new translation, an amended text, and a very learned commentary; but dying before the work was printed, Gronovius undertook the task, and made some valuable additions. It was reprinted in 1694.