Giovanni Diodati, a Swiss theologian, born in Geneva in 1576, died there in 1649. His parents, natives of Lucca, had taken refuge in Switzerland from the persecution directed against them on account of their Protestantism. At 21 years he became, on the- nomination of Beza, a professor of Hebrew. In 1608 he was made parish minister in the Reformed church, and in 1609 became professor of theology. In 1618-'19 Diodati, already noted as a preacher both in France and Switzerland, attended the synod of Dort, where with Theodore Tronchin he represented the church of Geneva, and was one of the six ministers appointed to draw up the articles of faith. In this synod he showed himself a zealous Cal-vinist, and offended many by his bitterness against the Remonstrant party. He relinquished his office as professor in 1645, and passed the remaining years of his life in retirement. He built the villa Diodati, near Geneva, where he was visited by Milton, and in which Byron resided in 1816. He was considered by many to be the most learned Biblical scholar of his day.

Among his works are an Italian version of the Bible (1603; new eds., with notes, 1607 and 1641); a free Italian translation of the New Testament (1608); Mortis Meditatio Theologica (1619) ; De Fic-titio Pontificiorum Purgatorio (1619); French translations of Job, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles (1638), of the Psalms (1640), and of the whole Hebrew Bible (1644); also of Fra Paolo's "History of the Council of Trent" (1621); and a great number of other theological and controversial writings.