BELLARMINO, Roberto. Institutiones Linguae Hebraicae / Exercitatio grammatica in psalmum XXXIII.
Venezia, Giovanni Battista Ciotti, 1606
Rare edition. Important treatise on the Hebrew language. Contains numerous Hebrew texts with grammatical notes and translations of verbs and irregular forms. Numerous synoptic tables comparing Hebrew and Latin sentences. Robert Bellarmine, a friend and defender of Galileo, wrote this weighty work on the Hebrew language to definitively clarify the original meaning of the words used in the Sacred Texts, which at the time were translated into Latin, often approximate. On page 331, it begins with its own title page: “Exercitatio grammatica in Psalmum XXXIII”.
Two parts in one volume in 8vo. 145 x 95 mm. Contemporary vellum binding, handwritten title on the spine. Pages 394, [10]. Jesuit insignia on the main title page and on the second title page on leaf 6r. Ornate woodcut initials. Italic, Hebrew, Roman type. Old handwritten ownership note on the title page. Slight traces of wear, good copy.