JAHN, JOHANN. - Exegete and Orientalist, born at Tasswitz (Moravia) on 18 June 1750, died at Vicenza on 16 August 1816. Premonstratensian (1772), he was professor at Olmütz (1774), then (1789) of Oriental studies, Introduction to the Old Testament, and archaeology at Vienna, where in 1803 he was also entrusted with the chair of dogma. Although of wide and choice learning, J. had to be removed from the chair because of his opinions, which were too free and tended toward rationalism.
Principal works: Hebräische Grammatik (1792; 1799, with vocabulary; 1809, expanded in Latin); Aramaïsche Grammatik (1793); Arabische Grammatik (1796); Chrestomathia Chaldaica (1800) and Arabica (1802); Lexicon Arabico-Latinum (1802); Biblia Hebraica (4 vols., 1806); Einleitung in die göttlichen Schriften des Alten Bundes (4 vols., 1792; 2nd ed. 1802-1803), of which a Latin compendium appeared (1804; 2nd ed. 1814; placed on the Index, decree of 26 August 1822); Biblische Archäologie (5 vols., 1797-1804; 2nd ed. 1817-23) with a Latin compendium (1805; 2nd ed. 1814; placed on the Index, decree of 26 August 1822); Enchiridion hermeneutica generalis (1812-13) and Appendix hermeneutica (1813-15; both placed on the Index, decree of 26 August 1822); Nachträge zu seinen Werken (1821).