On the Rudiments of Hebrew

...since there is in our minds (I know not from where) an implanted desire for much variety. This is why that proverb is often on our lips: original: "uilescit quotidianũ" that which is daily becomes cheap. It will be necessary for the ancient dignity of the Holy Scriptures to return in a new appearance, which has been unknown to Latin men This refers to Western European scholars who, at the time, primarily used the Latin Vulgate Bible. until now. By driving out the excessive familiarity of daily reading, we ourselves may grasp a new and native style of speaking in the Divine Scripture, the kind that the mouth of God spoke, not without a certain admiration for this unheard of and recent study.

For then the common boredom of all the various interpretations is removed, when that very Bible of the Old Testament can be both read and understood by our people in its primordial language, that is, Hebrew. This should be done in no other way or manner than its primary establishment, begun by the supreme Creator of all things, requires. This clearly cannot happen if we do not first pursue, with eager effort and a willing heart, the proprietatem The specific or literal meaning of a word as opposed to a figurative interpretation. of Hebrew words and the true condition of the language; the very fountain from which all theology has flowed. Although the teaching of this language is puerilis While Reuchlin uses the word for "childish," he means "rudimentary" or "elementary," referring to the basic building blocks of grammar., nonetheless because it nourishes a certain more subtle knowledge than the mere system of letters...