Lejay, Gui-michel

Lejay, Gui-Michel, a noted French scholar in exegetical theology, was born at Paris in 1588. While at the high school he paid particular attention to the Eastern languages, and in 1615 projected a polyglot of the Bible, known as the Palis Polyglot (Paris, 1629-45, 10 vols. folio), and entitled Biblia Hebraica, Samaritana, Chaldaica, Graeca, Syriaca, Latina, Arabica, quibus textuts originales totius Scripturae sacrae, quarums pars in editione Complutensi, deide in Antwerpiensi regiis sumptibus extat, nuunc integri ex manuscriptis toto fere orbe quaesitis exemplaribus exhibentur. The first four vols. contain the Heb., Chald., Sept., and Vulg. texts of the O.T.; vols. 5 and 6 the N.T. in Gr., Syr., Arab., and Lat.; vol. 7, the Heb. Samar. Pent. the Sam. version, with translation by Morinus, the Arab. and Syr. Pent.; vols. 8-10, the rest of the books of the O. Test. in Syr. and Arab. Lejay lost largely by this publication; but, as a reward for his labor and cost, he was ennobled. The work was the best of its kind till the London Polyglot appeared, by which it was soon superseded. See Lelong, Discours historique sur les principales editions des Bibles polyglottes (Paris, 1713, 12mo), p. 104 sq., 379, 399 sq., 545, 546 sq.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 30:512 sq.; Kitto, Cyclop. Bibl. Lit. vol. 2, s.v.