The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville - Pot-pourri

162 VII.v.31–vi.17 Isidore of Seville
apostate angels fell, these were made firm in the steadfastness
of eternal blessing. Whence we find, after the
creation of heaven in the beginning (Genesis 1:6, 8), “Let
there be a firmament (firmamentum)...andthefirmament
was called, Heaven.” 31.Thisissurelythesayingof
one who is showing that after the Fall of the bad angels
those who were steadfast strove for the firmness (firmitas)ofeternal
perseverance; diverted by no lapse, falling
in no pride, but firmly (firmiter) holding steady in the
love and contemplation of God, they consider nothing
sweet except him by whom they were created.
32. Further, we read of two Seraphim in Isaiah (6:2);
they figuratively signify the Old and New Testaments. We
also read that they cover the face and feet of God, because
we cannot know the past before the world or the future
after the world, but we contemplate only the middle by
their witness. 33. Each of them has six wings because in
this present age we know concerning the fabric of this
world only those things that were made in the six days.
That each cries “Holy” three times to the other (Isaiah
6:3)shows the mystery of the Trinity in the one divinity.
vi. People who received their name from a certain presaging
(De hominibus qui quodam praesagio nomen
acceperunt) 1.Many of the early humans take the origin
of their names from conditions specific to them. Their
names were imparted to them prophetically in such a way
that they concord with their future or their previous conditions.
2.While a holy and spiritual character abides in
these names, we are now describing the meaning of their
stories only with regard to the literal. Moreover, where
we have not touched on the meaning of the etymology,
we have merely set it forth in Latin. 3. Further, because
of the diversity of accents and letters, it happens that one
Hebrew name is transliterated in one way or another, so
that the names are rendered with various meanings.
4. Adam, as blessed Jerome informs us, means
“human” or “earthling” or “red earth,” for from earth
was flesh made, and humus (humus) wasthe material
from which the human (homo) wasmade. 5. Eve
(Eva) means “life” or “calamity” or “woe” (vae). 5 Life,
because she was the origin of being born; calamity and
woe because by her lying she was the cause of death –
for ‘calamity’ (calamitas) takes its name from ‘falling’
(cadere). 6.But others say Eve is called ‘life’ and ‘calamity’
because often a woman is the cause of salvation for a
man, often the cause of calamity and death, which is woe.
7. Cain is interpreted as “possession,” whence, expressing
this very etymology, his father says ‘Cain,’ that is
(Genesis 4:1), “I have gotten (lit. ‘I have possessed,’ possidere)aman
through God.” And the same name means
“lamentation,” because he was killed for the killing of
Abel, and he paid the penalty for his own crime. 8.Abel
means “mourning,” and by this name it was prefigured
that he would be killed. Likewise it means “emptiness,”
because he was quickly removed and taken away.
9. Sethistranslated “resurrection,” because he was
born after the killing of his brother, as if he triggered the
resurrection of his brother from the dead. It also means
“putting,” because God put him in place of Abel. 10.
Enos in a variation in his own language means “human
being” or “man,” and he had this name fittingly, for it
is written of him (Genesis 4:26), “Then was the beginning
of calling upon the name of the Lord” – although
many of the Hebrews think rather that it was at that
time that idols were first made in the name of the Lord
and in his likeness. 11. Enoch means “dedication,” for
afterwards Cain built a city in his name (Genesis 5:17).
12. Cainan (i.e. Kenan) means “lamentation” or “possession
of those,” for as Cain means “possession,” so the
derivative name, which is Cainan, forms “possession of
those.” 13. Methuselah is translated “he has died.” The
etymology of his name is obvious, for some think that he
was translated with his father 6 and that he lived past the
time of the Flood. Against this it is significantly translated
“he has died” to show that he did not live beyond
the Flood, but died in that same cataclysm. Indeed, only
the eight humans in the ark escaped the Flood.
14. Lamech means “striking down,” for he struck
down and killed Cain, and indeed afterwards he confesses
to his wives that he did this (cf. Genesis 4:23–24). 15.
Noah means “rest,” since under him all past works came
to rest because of the Flood. Whence his father, calling
his name Noah, said (Genesis 5:29), “This same makes us
rest from all our works.” 16. Shem means “renowned,”
because he got his name as a presaging of his posterity, for
out of him came the patriarchs and apostles and people
of God. Also from his stock came Christ, whose name is
great among the nations from the rising of the sun to its
setting. 17.Cham (i.e. Ham) means “warm,” and he was
5 The ancient anagram connects Eva and vae.
6 Methuselah’s father Enoch was thought, on the basis of Genesis
5:24, tohave passed on without death.