Pareau, John Henry

Pareau, John Henry a noted Dutch Orientalist, was born, of French parentage, in the second half of the last century, probably about 1770. He was for some time preacher at Deventer, later at Utrecht. At the last-named place he became professor of Oriental literature at the university. He died in 1830. He is the author of various useful and reputable works relating to Biblical criticism and interpretation. His Institutio Interpretis Veteris Testamenti (Tr. ad Rh. 1822, 8vo), a valuable compendium of sacred hermeneutics, has been deemed worthy of a place in the "Edinburgh Biblical Cabinet." In 1814 he published a prize essay in Latin on the mythic interpretation of the Scriptures, in which he aimed a successful blow at the principles of interpretation adopted by modern German neologists. He also wrote on Hebrew antiquities, explained and illustrated the Lamentations of Jeremiah, the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, and in a dissertation on the book of Job defended the position that Job was acquainted with the doctrine of a future state, etc. (J. H. W.)