Creator Bio

Abraham Usque

1521–1587

Abraham ben Samuel Usque (Duarte Pinel) was a New Christian of Portuguese origin who was active as a translator in Ferrara, Italy. Together with printer Yom Tob ben Athias, he produced the first translation of the Hebrew Bible into Spanish, known as the Ferrara Bible (1553). 

Content by Abraham Usque

Primary Source

Dedication (to Gracia Nasi): Ferrara Bible

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Text
This 1553 dedication to Doña Gracia Nasi is a record of the history of the Ferrara Bible and its role in reclaiming Jewish identity for Iberian exiles.

Primary Source

Spanish Translation of the Bible

Public Access
Text
The 1553 Ferrara Bible is a Spanish translation of the Hebrew Bible, intended for New Christian readers.
Page of printed Hebrew text with word set in decorated border on top.
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Related Guide

Jewish Printing and Book Culture

1500–1750

Jewish printing unified far-flung communities by standardizing religious texts, created textual uniformity, and enabled vernacular translations, and facilitated the spread of Jewish texts and knowledge. 

Manuscript scroll page with Hebrew text and decorated border with illustrations of cherubs, faces, animals, ribbons, and flowers.
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Related Guide

Early Modern Italy: Where East and West Meet

1500–1750

Ashkenazim, Sephardim, and Marranos encountered each other in Italian cities, developing community structures that later influenced Jewish communal organization throughout the western world.

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Early Modern Jewish Languages

1500–1750

As Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews migrated eastward, Yiddish and Ladino emerged as distinct languages. Both languages developed literary traditions, as print became more widespread.