Bidspirit auction | Safah Berurah – A Five-Language

Safah Berurah – A Five-Language Dictionary of Biblical and Mishnaic Hebrew. Amsterdam, 1701. First and Rare Edition - Safah Berurah, described on the title page as: “Five languages – the Holy Tongue, Ashkenazic, French, Italian, and Latin – clearly explained… for every word of the Holy Tongue found in the Bible… together with some words not found in Scripture but appearing in the Six Orders [of the Mishnah]… useful for speaking before kings and princes…”. Amsterdam, 1701. A rare first edition of one of the most ambitious and unusual linguistic works printed in the early modern period—a multilingual dictionary designed as a practical reference tool for students of the Bible and Mishnah, merchants, members of Jewish communities throughout Europe, and those engaged in dealings with governmental authorities and the non-Jewish world. The work is arranged in a distinctive format: each Hebrew term is accompanied by its equivalent in four major European languages—Ashkenazic (Judeo-German), French, Italian, and Latin. Alongside biblical vocabulary, the author included numerous terms drawn from the Mishnah and from everyday life, including expressions relating to commerce, society, and interpersonal relations. In the publisher’s introduction, it is noted that earlier editions of the work appeared in only four languages, whereas the present edition incorporates French as a fifth language. This significant expansion greatly enhanced the book’s value as both an educational tool and a bridge between cultures. The volume comprises nineteen chapters, with each page arranged in five parallel columns: Hebrew Ashkenazic (Judeo-German) French Italian Latin This unique structure makes the work an important resource for scholars of historical linguistics, researchers of European Jewish history, and those interested in the development of Jewish education and intercultural exchange in the early modern era. Reference works of this nature were generally printed in limited numbers and intended for intensive daily use. Consequently, relatively few copies have survived, making them uncommon on the market for early Hebrew books. [1], 31 leaves. 20 cm. Condition: Good-very good. Staining. Early repair to the corner of the title page, not affecting the text. Later binding. First edition. Rare. An important and fascinating bibliographical work reflecting the multilingual world of European Jewry at the dawn of the eighteenth century and the practical and cultural need to bridge the gap between the Holy Tongue and the languages of the surrounding world.