IBN JANACH, e:b'n 115-Mich', A LW.% LID MERWAN, Or JONAH MARINES. A Jewish gram marian of Spain. Ile was born near the end of the tenth century and died about the middle of the eleventh century, but the exact dates are unknown. Ile studied Ilebrew at his birth place, Cordova, and in Lucena, under Jewish teachers, and also took up the study of medi cine. In 1012, in consequence of political dis turbances, lie was obliged, with many other Jews, to leave Cordova and settled in Sara gossa, where he appears to have spent the rest of his (lays, and where, while continuing his practice of medicine, lie devoted himself also to the investigation of Hebrew grammar, guided largely by the researches of his predecessor, Ilayyug (q.v.). Ibn Janaeh was enabled to ad vanee the knowledge of Hebrew morphology far beyond the point that Hayyug had reached. Ile did not hesitate to make slight changes in the bildical text where it seemed to be meaningless as it stood. His main work consists of two parts, the first dealing with grammar, Kilfib-al Lanza. published by J. Derenhourg (Paris. 1886) ; the second a lexicon, by Neubauer (Oxford. 1873-75). The grammar,
based on Arabic models, is the first systematic attempt to cover the entire field of Hebrew gram mar. The dictionary is characterized by the same eomprehensive knowledge and clear per ception as the grammar. and. incidental to the explanation of words. furnishes valuable and elaborate discussion of grammatical points. Both the grammar and the dictionary were translated by Judah ben Saul Ion Tibbon (c.1120-1190), the former having been published by B. Gold berg (Frankfort, 1856) ; the latter by W. Bache!. (Leipzig, 1889). lle also wrote several minor grammatical treatises (published by J. and 11. Dercnbourg, Paris, 1880), in which he defended his views and those of Hayyug against attacks, and also amplified the grammatical treatises of the latter. Ibn Janach was also interested in philosophical questions, and strenuously opposed the speculations of Ibn Gebirol and other men of the day on the relation of God to the world, on the ground that they led to disbelief. Con sult Backer, Lawn and Werke des Abulivalid illerwan Pm, Ganaeh (Leipzig, 1885).