JACOB OF EDESSA, who ranks with Barhebraeus as the most distinguished for scholarship among Syriac writers, was born at 'En-clebha in the province of Antioch, probably about A.D. 64o. He spent nine years in revising and emending the Peshitta version of the Old Testament by the help of the various Greek versions. He died on June 5, 708. In doctrine Jacob was undoubtedly Monophysite.
His works include a Monophysite revision of the Old Testament ; commentaries and scholia on the sacred books ; many contributions to the Syrian liturgy ; an Enchiridion, a tract on philosophical terms ; a Syriac grammar; and a version of the homilies of Severus.
See Assemani, Bibliotheca orientalis; and Wright, Catalogue of Syriac MSS. in the British Museum.