HUPFELD, HERMANN (CHRISTIAN KARL FRIEDRICH): German Biblical scholar; b. at Marburg Mar. 31, 1796; d. at Halle Apr. 24, 1866. At the age of seventeen he entered the University of Marburg (Ph.D., 1817), where he studied philology and theology. From 1819 till 1822 he was a gymnasium professor at Hanau, until his shattered health compelled him to return to his parents' house. Here, on resuming his theological studies, he soon discovered a firm theological basis. In 1824 he proceeded to Halle, where he enjoyed the society of Gesenius, and became privat-docent in Hebrew. A few months later he went to Marburg as privatdocent. On being appointed extraordinary professor of theology at Marburg in 1825, Hupfeld promoted the study of Semitic grammar by his incisively discriminating Exercitationes Xthiopiae (Leipsic, 1825), which at once attested their learned author to be an investigator of the first rank. With the regular professorship of Oriental languages, which he obtained in 1827, Hupfeld combined, in 1830, the regular chair of theology at Marburg. He finally found his largest sphere of action, in 1843, as successor to Gesenius at Halle. Here, for several decades, he conscientiously, thoroughly, and fruitfully taught the special branches of Old Testament science.

Only cursory mention may be made here of Hupfeld's varied work. He not only wrote upon university topics, but also composed manifold political tracts, wherein he proclaimed in advance the revolution of 1848, and fought for genuine liberty against undisciplined anarchy. He repeatedly took an active part in the ecclesiastical controversies of the time. In 1837 he prevented the introduction of an inferior hymn-book; and as late as 1849 he was active as a politico-ecclesiastical writer in the cause of a free internal upbuilding of the Church upon a positive Christian foundation. Undoubtedly, too, in the saddest days of the reaction, Hupfeld, by reason of his quiet academic work, was a valiant colaborer toward the inauguration of better conditions.

In view of the great multitude of Hupfeld'a literary achievements, any complete enumeration of titles is out of question. The list of his writings in his autobiography fills five pages. Unfortunately his early projected Ausfiirliche hebräische Grammatik (Cassel, 1841) was never completed. To be mentioned for its epoch-making influence is his Kritische Beleuchtung einiger dunkeln and misverstandenen Stellen der alltestamentlichen Textgeschichte (TSK, iii. 1830, and x. 1837), and also the work Ueber Begriff and Methods der sogenannten biblischen Einleitung (Marburg, 1844), which is still worth reading. An ingenious essay is that on Die Stellung and Bedeutung des Ruches Hiob im A. T. nach seinem didaktischen and dramatischen Charakter (Deutsche Zeitschrift für christliche Wissenschaft, Berlin, 1850). Interesting, again, are his investigations respecting the Hebrew festivals, published in four Latin Easter programs (Halle, 1851-64). To be mentioned also are the classic essay on Die Politik der Propheten des A. T.'s (tVeue evangelische Kirchenzeitung (Berlin, 1862), and Die heutige theosophische oder mythologische Theologie and Schrifterkltirung (Berlin, 1861), which is important for the history of theology in Germany.

It remains to mention Hupfeld's two major works, and first, Die Quellen der Genesis und die Art ihrer Zusammensetzung von neuem untersucht (Berlin, 1853). One who is not repelled by the somewhat wearisome elaboration of these disquisitions will even nowadays find them profitable, the book having permanent value, and being renowned for the scrupulousness of its research, as well as for the strictness of its method. Hupfeld's most extensive work is his commentary on the Psalms, Die Psalmen übersetzt and ausgelegt (4 vols., Gotha, 1855-61). Of its merits and shortcomings, suffice it to say that Hupfeld sought to ascertain, in the case of difficult and contested passages in the Psalms, the earliest advocate of every interpretation he adduced, and that he sometimes made assertions that are untenable. The second edition, revised by Edward Riehm (4 vols., 1867-71), contains a great many improvements. The very serviceable third edition by W. Nowack (2 vols., 1888) is such a decided recasting of the preceding one's that to recognize the work of Hupfeld and Riehm one must have recourse to the first and second editions.

A. Kamphausen.

Bibliography: Hupfeld furnished accounts of his life for the Grundlage zu einer hessisd en Gelehrten-, Schriftstellerund Kunatler-Geschichte, by K. W. Justi, Marburg, 1831 and by O. Gerland, Cassel, 1865. Consult also E. Riehm, Hermann Hupfeld, Lebens- and Charakterbild, Halle, 1867, K. F. Keil, Introduction to . . . O. T., i. 177-179, Edinburgh, 1869; F. Bleek, Einleitung in das A. T., ed. J. Bleek and A. Kamphausen, pp. 569, 617, 626, Berlin, 1893; E. König, Einleitung in das Alte Testament, pp. 7, 12, 147, 193, Bonn, 1893.