Dutch orientalist, born at Franeker, in Friesland, in 1593. He was a Protestant, and made a study of the oriental languages for the purpose of undertaking a critical examination of the Bible. In 1613 he went to England and taught Hebrew at Exeter College, Oxford, for several years. Returning home, he was appointed to the chair of Hebrew in the university of his native city, which he held until his death in 1629. His chief work was a criticism of the Vulgate.
