Cocceius, Johannes

Cocceius, Johannes (kŏksē`əs), 1603–69, German theologian, whose surname was originally Koch or Koken. Born in Bremen, he went to Holland, where he was professor at Francken and Leiden. He produced many learned writings, among them his great dictionary of the Hebrew language (1669), often reprinted. Cocceius held a theory of life based upon the Bible. He made the biblical covenant between God and man the central idea of his theology. In his examination of the Old Testament he found Jesus prefigured throughout. His followers, Cocceians, perpetuated and emphasized his teachings.