Career
He was a student at the University of Göttingen, where one of his instructors was Johann Gottfried Eichhorn (1852-1827). He then continued his studies in Vienna with Orientalist Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall (1774-1856). In 1828 with Carl Christian Ullmann (1796-1865), he became co-editor of the journal Theologischen Studien und Kritiken (Theological studies and discussions).
Umbreit published a scholarly translation/commentary on the Book of Job, as well as a commentary on the Book of Proverbs.
His best known publication was a masterful four-volume exegetical work on the prophets of the Old Testament titled Praktischer Commentar über die Propheten des alten Bundes (1841-1846).