Egbert Jan Greve

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Egbert Jan Greve (born October 5, 1754 in Deventer , † August 13, 1811 in Harlingen ) was a Dutch orientalist and theologian .

Life

Egbert Jan Greve was a son of the businessman Hendrik Greve and Hendrika Everdina Frantzen. His early education he received at the Athenaeum in his hometown and moved in 1778 the University of Leiden to theology to study. He stayed here for four years, eagerly listened to the orientalist Hendrik Albert Schultens and soon came into a closer relationship with him as a clerk. During his student days he already acquired a deep knowledge of the Hebrew language . Even then he worked out a work that stood out as the first more thorough attempt at the treatment of the Hebrew metric. This work was published in Deventer in 1788 under the title Ultima capita libris Jobi ad graecam versionem recensita notisque instructa from EJ Greve, L. Min. Cand.inter Reformatus. Accedit tractatus de metris hebraicis, praesertim Jobaeis . But it only extends to chapter 39 of the book of Job .

In 1782 Greve returned to Deventer from Leiden. He took a fairly free-spirited position on Christianity and when he was admitted as a candidate for the ministry (1783) he signed the usual regulations only with the addition “as human statutes” according to Article 2 of the Creed of the Reformed Dutch Churches. His reserve and weak physical constitution, expressed in this way, probably impaired his pastoral career.

Greve was to receive a chair for oriental languages, but could not reconcile it with his conscience to sign the articles of faith of the United Netherlands Church throughout, and therefore had to resign from the position. He initially stayed in his father's house to pursue his studies. In 1787 political disputes were added to the religious disputes that upset Deventer at the time. The Orangists got into open battle with the People's Party, and the Prussians advanced into Holland. Greve was in danger; his father's house was stormed and it was difficult for him to escape. He turned with his younger brother to Steinfurt , where he completed his previously mentioned writing for printing and in 1791 also had a second part, namely chapters 40–42 of the Book of Job, published.

In early 1789 Greve returned to Deventer. He did not appear politically again until 1796 as a member of the first Dutch National Assembly. In 1797 he finally got a position according to his wishes at the University of Franeker as professor of oriental languages ​​and Hebrew antiquities. For his inaugural address in November 1797 he chose the topic of the study of the oriental languages ​​and had it printed in Leeuwarden in 1800 under the title Oratio de nexu qui studio linguarum orientalium cum caeteris artibus et doctrinis humanioribus intercedit indivulsus . Since then he has devoted himself entirely to the teaching post and literary work entrusted to him. In 1811, at the age of 56, he died of nervous fever in Harlingen, where he had stayed with his family to relax.

Other works by Greve are a Dutch translation of most of the apostle Paul's letters (Deventer 1790; new edition with commentary in 3 volumes, Amsterdam 1794 and 1804) as well as:

  • Vaticinia Nahumi et Habacuci , Hebrew text with Dutch and Latin translation, 2 volumes, Amsterdam 1793
  • Vaticinorum Jesaiae volumen postremum a cap. XL ad XLV Hebraica ad numeros recensuit, versionem et notas adjecit , with Dutch translation, 2 volumes, Amsterdam 1810

A friend of Greve's, the Dutch poet Rhijnvis Feith , published Greve's works in Amsterdam in 1813.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Greve, Egbert Jan
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Dutch orientalist and theologian
DATE OF BIRTH October 5, 1754
PLACE OF BIRTH Deventer
DATE OF DEATH August 13, 1811
Place of death Harlingen