Abrabanel Abravanel, or Abarbancl, Isaac ben Judah, a Jewish author, born in Lisbon in 1437, died in Venice in 1508. His family boasted a lineal descent from the kings of Judah. He received an excellent education, and was equally successful in the pursuit of knowledge, wealth, and influence. Alfonso V. of Portugal employed him in state affairs; but his son and successor, John II., not only withdrew all favor from him, but, unjustly suspecting him of intrigues with Spain, caused him to fly to that country, and confiscated his property. He sought consolation in study, but after a time entered the service of King Ferdinand of Ara-gon. The expulsion of the Jews from Spain, decreed in 1492 by Ferdinand and Isabella, again made him an exile. Repairing to Naples, he was well received by Ferdinand L, and by his son Alfonso II.; but the invasion of the French in 1495 drove him with the Neapolitan court to Messina, whence he repaired to Corfu. In 1496 he established himself at Monopoli in Apulia, where he remained till 1503. The last years of his life he spent in Venice, where he once more engaged in state affairs.

His works, the principal of which are commentaries on various books of the Scriptures, partly of a critical and partly of a doctrinal character, and a number of philosophical treatises, are marked by a glowing enthusiasm for Judaism, a comparative independence of spirit, vast research, and elegant Hebrew diction. One of his three sons, Leone (originally Judah) was the author of a philosophical work in Italian, entitled Dialoghi di Amore, which passed through several editions.