Neumann, Caspar

Neumann, Caspar a German theologian, noted as a Hebraist, was born at Breslau, in Silesia, Sept. 14, 1648. After graduating at the Gymnasium of St. Magdalen, he went in 1667 to Jena to study theology. Three years later he published his dissertation on the Roman Catholic Church (D)issertatio de Ecclesia Catholica), and the university conferred on him the title of "magister." He soon commenced lecturing on Church history, and his lectures were attended by a great many students. At the recommendation of the divines of Jena, duke Ernest the Pious, of Gotha, appointed him as the fellowtraveller of his son, prince Christian, with whom Neumann went through Germany, Switzerland, Southern France, Savoy, and Upper Italy. In 1678 he was appointed by the successor of the duke court-preacher in Altenburg. A year later the authorities of his native place appointed him to the diaconate of St. Mary Magdalen, and in 1689 as pastor of the same church and assessor of the consistory. In 1697 he became superintendent of the evangelical churches and schools, pastor of St. Elizabeth, and first professor of theology at the gymnasia. He died January 27, 1715. Besides devotional works, he wrote תַּוֹלדוֹת, Genesis linguae sanctae Vet. Test. (Norimb. 1696): — Exodus linguae sanctae e captivitate Babylon. tentatus in Lexico etymologico Hebraeo-biblico (ibid. 1697-1700): — , מַפתִח בֵּיתעֵבֶרJanua at significationem hieroglyphicam litterarum Ebraicarum. etc. part 3 (Breslau, 1712): — De punctis vocalibus (ibid 1715). Possessed of great learning, he was likewise a very pious and saintly man, full of love for humanity. He is also the author of thirty-nine hymns, which are yet to be found in many hymn-books. The best known is his Herr, auf Erden muss ich leiden (English translation in Choral-book for England, No. 66, "Lord, on earth I dwell sad-hearted"). See Tacken, Life of M. Casp. Neumann (Breslau and Leipsic, 1741); Koch, Gesch. d. deutschen Kirchenliedes, 5:456 sq.; Jocher, Gelehrten Lexikon, 3:881; supplement by Rottermund, 5:563; Knapp, Evangelischer Liederschatz, page 1339, s.v.; Furst, Biblioth. Judaica, 3:30; Steinschneider, Bibliogr: Handbuch, page 101; Bleek, Einleitung. in das A. Test. page 132; Keil, Introduction to the Old Testament, 2:175 (B.P.)