Leigh, Edward

Leigh, Edward a learned English layman, was born in 1602, and was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford. He was a member of the Long Parliament, but was expelled on account of his intercession in behalf of the life of king Charles. He was also a member of the Assembly of Divines, and held the office of parliamentary general. He died in 1671. Edward Leigh wrote largely. Of his Greek works, one of the best is Critica Sacra (1639, 4to, and often; best ed. 1662, folio), which not only gives the literal sense of every word in the Old and New Testaments, but enriches the definitions with philological and theological notes. It was held in high esteem until supplanted by the more fundamental works of later Hebrew lexicographers. He also wrote Annotations on the New Testamzent, which are short and judicious, and other theological works of considerable value. See Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Am. Authors, 2:1079.