LEUSDEN, JOHN, a celebrated biblical writer, was born at Utrecht in 1624. After he had studied languages and mathematics at Utrecht, he repaired to Amsterdam to perfect his knowledge in Hebrew, by conversation with the rabbis. Here his attainments in oriental languages soon became so conspicuous, that in 1649 he was appointed Professor of Hebrew in his native city. After gaining the reputation of being one of the best Hebrew scholars of his day, he died in 1699.
His most important works are,—Philologus Hebraus, editio tertia, Utrecht, 1686; Philologus Hebrao-Mixtus, editio quarta, 1739; Philologus Hebrao-Graecus, editio secunda, 1685; Onomasticum Sacrum, Leyden, 1665 and 1684; Clavis Hebraica et Philologica Veteris Testamenti, Utrecht, 1682; Novi Testamenti Clavis Graeca cum Annotationibus Philologicis, Utrecht, 1672; Compendium Biblicum Veteris Testamenti, 1694; Compendium Graecum Novi Testamenti, London, 1680; Jonas Illustratus, Utrecht, 1652 and 1692; Joel Explicatus per Paraphrasim Chaldaicam, Utrecht, 1657.