Libri Job Versio Nova Ex Hebraeo Cum Scholiis. Authore Philippo Codurco Regis à Secretioribus Consiliis. Lutetiae Parisiorum: Petri Variquet, 1651.
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FIRST EDITION. An attractive and scholarly edition of the Book of Job, newly translated directly from the Hebrew by the author, with accompanying commentary (scholia). The work is of particular interest for its position within seventeenth-century biblical scholarship: although produced from a Catholic perspective, it departs from exclusive reliance on the Latin Vulgate, instead engaging directly with the Hebrew text, reflecting the growing influence of Protestant philological methods on Catholic exegesis, especially in linguistically and theologically complex books such as Job.
The author, Philippe Codurc, was originally a Protestant pastor in Provence before converting to Catholicism; he subsequently became professor of Hebrew at Montpellier and later at Nîmes. His writings are noted for their meticulous scholarship; a full list of his works is given in Haag, La France protestante (II, pp. 507).
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Provenance:
Inscriptions of a self-described theologian and Hebraist, Bertrandus Combes to front and rear endpapers dated 1727, probably south France, perhaps in the Annonay region.
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Size: 181 x 235 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(1), ā4, ē4, í2, A-Z4, 2A-2X4, 2Y2, (1)]
Contemporary full calf binding, boards lined in double-fillet gilt, repeating gilt device in spine compartments between five raised bands, title lettered in gilt to upper spine. Binding rubbed with some losses to leather including a strip of loss to the front board. Some discolouration, joints cracked, but with both boards attached and the binding secure. Shelf and edge wear, losses at extremities. Eighteenth-century inscriptions to endpapers, no attached bookplates. Preliminary blank working loose but remains attached. Text block mildly toned else very clean throughout. Collates as complete including the usually lacking final leaf with the privilege (2Y2).
A well presented copy of a scarce and intellectually engaging example of early modern Hebrew scholarship within the Catholic tradition.
