As to the first qualification, it is said that at the age of eleven he had begun a Hebrew rhyming dictionary for the use of poets.
He himself added several hymns to the liturgy.

In these Saadiah's poetical range is very varied.

Sometimes his style is as pure and simple as the most classical poems of the Spanish school.

At other times, his verses have all the intricacy, harshness, and artificiality of Kalir's.
Perhaps his mastery of Hebrew is best seen in his "Book of the Exiled" (_Sefer ha-Galui_), compiled in Biblical Hebrew, divided into verses, and provided with accents.

As the title indicates, this book was written during Saadiah's exile from Sura.
Saadiah's Arabic version of the Scriptures won such favor that it was read publicly in the synagogues.