Johann Buxtorf the Younger

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Johann Buxtorf , called the Younger (born August 13, 1599 in Basel ; † August 16, 1664 ibid) was a Swiss Reformed theologian and orientalist .

Life

Buxtorf studied at the University of Basel , where he obtained his master's degree at the age of 16. Further study trips took him to Heidelberg and the Netherlands (participation in the Dordrecht Synod in 1619), to England, France and Geneva. Returned to Basel in 1624, he became a deacon at St. Peter's Church in 1627 . In 1630 he followed his father Johann Buxtorf the Elder to the chair for Hebrew language in Basel. After he had turned down several appointments, another theological professorship ( dogmatics ) was created for him in 1647 in Basel . In 1642 he was promoted to Dr. theol. PhD .

Buxtorf published several works by his father and wrote many treatises, commentaries and translations. In 1629 his Latin translation of the Leader of the Indecisors of Maimonides appeared , and in 1660 his Latin translation of the Kusari of Jehuda ha-Levi . A translation of the 30th chapter by Shmuel Archevoltis Arugat ha-Bosem (Eng. "Spice Bed") appeared in the appendix . This chapter deals with Hebrew steganography, or cryptography . He also continued his father's argument with Louis Cappel over the age of the Hebrew vowel signs .

Buxtorf corresponded with Jewish scholars such as Menasse ben Israel , David Cohen de Lara , Jacob Abendana and Isaac Abendana . Although Basel was a Reformed university, many Lutheran scholars and theologians studied at Buxtorf (including Philipp Jakob Spener , Esdras Edzardus , Johann Benedict Carpzov II , Matthias Wasmuth , Sebastian Schmidt , Eberhard Anckelmann ) because he was considered the best expert on Hebrew.

His son Jakob Buxtorf was his father's successor on the Hebrew chair. His manuscripts, mostly translations of rabbinical writings, are in the Basel University Library.

His nephew Johann Buxtorf was his successor in the Hebrew professorship.

Fonts (selection)

  • Lexicon chaldaicum et syriacum , 1622.
  • De Linguæ Hebraicæ Origine et Antiquitate , Basel, 1644
  • Florilegium Hebraicum Continens Elegantes Sentencias, Proverbia, Apophthegmata: ex Optimis Quibusque Maxime vero Priscis Hebræorum Scriptoribus Collectum et. . . Alphabetice Dispositum . Basel, 1648.
  • Tractatus de punctorum, vocalium atque accentuum in libris VT hebraicis origine, antiquitate et auctoritate oppositus arcano punctationis revelato Lud. Cappelli , 1648.
  • Anticritica seu vindiciae veritatis hebraicae: adversus Lud. Cappelli criticam quam vocat sacram eiusque defensionem , 1653.
  • with Lukas Gernler and Johann Rudolf Wettstein : Syllabus controversiarum religionis, quae ecclesiis orthodoxis cum quibuscunque adversariis intercedunt , Decker, Basel 1662.

As his father's editor:

  • Concordantiae Bibliorum hebraicae . 1632
  • Lexicon Chaldaicum Talmudicum et Rabbinicum . Basel 1639 (Reprint Hildesheim 1974).

literature

Web links

See also

personal data
SURNAME Buxtorf, Johann the Younger
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Buxtorf, Johann junior
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss reformed theologian and orientalist
DATE OF BIRTH August 13, 1599
PLACE OF BIRTH Basel
DATE OF DEATH August 16, 1664
Place of death Basel