Christian Knorr von Rosenroth

Christian Knorr von Rosenroth (July 15/16, 1636 – May 4, 1689) was a German
Christian Hebraist and Christian Cabalist born at Alt-Raudten (today Stara Rudna) in
Silesia. After having completed his studies in the universities of Wittenberg and Leipzig, he
traveled through the Netherlands, France, and England. At Amsterdam, he became
acquainted with an Armenian prince, with the chief Rabbi, Meier Stern, Dr. John Lightfoot
and Henry More. Influenced by them, and others, he studied Oriental languages, chemistry,
and the cabalistic sciences. On his return, he settled at Sulzbach where he became the privy
counsellor of Christian Augustus, Count Palatine of Sulzbach. He devoted himself to the
study of Hebrew. Later he became a student of the Kabbalah, in which he believed to find
proofs of the doctrines of Christianity.

He also dedicated time to translate Thomas Browne's vast-ranging work of scientific

journalism, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, totalling over 200,000 words into German, completing
this task in 1680 for publication in Frankfurt and Leipzig.[1]

He also composed a number of hymns, including Jesus, Sun of Righteousness and

Dayspring of Eternity.[2]

A longer biography is available in Scholem (1974).