François Vatable
Encyclopedia
François Vatable was a French humanist scholar, a Hellenist and Hebraist.
, Somme
, he was for a time rector of Bramet in Valois, in 1530 or 1531. Francis I of France
appointed him to the chair of Hebrew in the newly-founded (1530) College of the Three Languages, afterwards better known as the Collège de France
. At a later date a royal grant conferred upon Vatable the title of Abbot of Bellozane, with the benefices attached thereto. Vatable is regarded as the restorer of Hebrew scholarship in France, and his lectures in Paris attracted a large audience including Jews.
He was a friend of Robert Estienne
.
's Meteorologica, which appeared at Lyon
in 1548, and another of the same author's Parva Naturalia
, which was published in Paris (1619).
From the lecture notes taken by Vatable's pupils, Robert Estienne
drew the material for the scholia which he added to his edition of the new Latin translation of the Bible by Leo of Judah (4 vols., Paris, 1539–45). The Sorbonne
doctors sharply inveighed against the Lutheran tendencies of the notes of Stephen's Bible, and Vatable himself disowned them; yet, as they are a model of clear, concise literary, and critical exegesis, the Salamanca
theologians, with the authorization of the Spanish Inquisition
, issued a new thoroughly-revised edition of them in their Latin Bible of 1584. From the edition of 1729 which Migne
republished in his Scripturae sacrae cursus completus (1841), the scholia on the Book of Esdras and Book of Nehemiah
. The notes on the Psalms
, re-edited in Stephens's Liber Psalmorum Davidis (1557), were printed again, together with remarks of Hugo Grotius
, by Vogel under the misleading title: Francisci Vatabli annotationes in Psalmos (1767).
Life
Born in GamachesGamaches
Gamaches is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Gamaches is situated on the D1015, on the banks of the Bresle River, the border with Seine-Maritime, some southwest of Abbeville.Huge lakes to the west of the town are a paradise for naturalists, anglers and...
, Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
, he was for a time rector of Bramet in Valois, in 1530 or 1531. Francis I of France
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
appointed him to the chair of Hebrew in the newly-founded (1530) College of the Three Languages, afterwards better known as the Collège de France
Collège de France
The Collège de France is a higher education and research establishment located in Paris, France, in the 5th arrondissement, or Latin Quarter, across the street from the historical campus of La Sorbonne at the intersection of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue des Écoles...
. At a later date a royal grant conferred upon Vatable the title of Abbot of Bellozane, with the benefices attached thereto. Vatable is regarded as the restorer of Hebrew scholarship in France, and his lectures in Paris attracted a large audience including Jews.
He was a friend of Robert Estienne
Robert Estienne
Robert I Estienne , known as Robertus Stephanus in Latin and also referred to as Robert Stephens by 18th and 19th-century English writers, was a 16th century printer and classical scholar in Paris...
.
Works
He published nothing during his lifetime. He had, however, completed a Latin translation of AristotleAristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
's Meteorologica, which appeared at Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
in 1548, and another of the same author's Parva Naturalia
Parva Naturalia
The Parva Naturalia are a collection of seven works by Aristotle, which discuss natural phenomena involving the body and the soul:* Sense and Sensibilia * On Memory...
, which was published in Paris (1619).
From the lecture notes taken by Vatable's pupils, Robert Estienne
Robert Estienne
Robert I Estienne , known as Robertus Stephanus in Latin and also referred to as Robert Stephens by 18th and 19th-century English writers, was a 16th century printer and classical scholar in Paris...
drew the material for the scholia which he added to his edition of the new Latin translation of the Bible by Leo of Judah (4 vols., Paris, 1539–45). The Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
doctors sharply inveighed against the Lutheran tendencies of the notes of Stephen's Bible, and Vatable himself disowned them; yet, as they are a model of clear, concise literary, and critical exegesis, the Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
theologians, with the authorization of the Spanish Inquisition
Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
, issued a new thoroughly-revised edition of them in their Latin Bible of 1584. From the edition of 1729 which Migne
Migné
Migné is a commune in the Indre department in central France.-References:*...
republished in his Scripturae sacrae cursus completus (1841), the scholia on the Book of Esdras and Book of Nehemiah
Book of Nehemiah
The Book of Nehemiah is a book of the Hebrew Bible. Told largely in the form of a first-person memoir, it concerns the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem by Nehemiah, a Jew who is a high official at the Persian court, and the dedication of the city and its people to God's laws...
. The notes on the Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
, re-edited in Stephens's Liber Psalmorum Davidis (1557), were printed again, together with remarks of Hugo Grotius
Hugo Grotius
Hugo Grotius , also known as Huig de Groot, Hugo Grocio or Hugo de Groot, was a jurist in the Dutch Republic. With Francisco de Vitoria and Alberico Gentili he laid the foundations for international law, based on natural law...
, by Vogel under the misleading title: Francisci Vatabli annotationes in Psalmos (1767).