The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville - Pot-pourri

from destruction by uncovering their falsity, or because,
discerning with shrewd intelligence, he disclosed visions
and dreams in which the future was revealed by certain
details and riddles. And he was called (Daniel 9:23) “a
man of desires,” because he did not eat the bread of
desire, nor drink the wine of concupiscence.
10. Hosea, “savior,” or “he who saves” (salvans), for
when he prophesied the wrath of God against the people
Israel for their crime of idolatry, he announced the safety
(salus) ofthe house of Judah. Because of this Hezekiah,
king of Judah, is shown to have purged and purified the
Temple of the Lord once the idols that preceding kings
had consecrated were removed. 11. Joel,“Lord God,” or
“beginning in God,” or “he was of God” – these because
his name reflects an uncertain etymology. 12.Amos, “the
people torn away,” for his prophecy was directed toward
the people Israel, because they were already torn away
from the Lord, and worshipped golden calves, or they
were torn from the reign of the line of David.
13.Nahum, “the groaning one” or “the consoler,” for
he cries out against the “city of blood” (Nahum 3:1), and
after its overthrow he consoles Zion, saying (Nahum
1:15), “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him
that bringeth good tidings, and that preacheth peace.”
14. Habakkuk, “the one who embraces.” He is either
called “embrace” because he was beloved of God, or,
because he engaged in contention with God, he was
allotted the name of “the one who embraces,” that is,
of “the one who wrestles.” Indeed, no other dared with
such bold voice to provoke God to a debate about justice,
as to why such great iniquity is involved in human
affairs and in the affairs of this world.
15. Micah, “who is this?” or “who is that one?”
16.Zephaniah is interpreted “looking-glass” (speculum)
or “hidden thing of the Lord”; either is appropriate
for a prophet because they know the mysteries of God.
Whence it is said to Ezekiel (3:17), “I have made thee a
watchman (speculator).” And elsewhere (cf. Amos 3:7),
“For the Lord will do nothing without revealing to his
servants the prophets.” 17.Obadiah, “slave of the Lord,”
for as Moses was servant of the Lord and the apostle Paul
was the slave of Christ, so Obadiah, sent as the “ambassador
to the nations” (Obadiah 1:1), comes and preaches
what befits his prophetic ministry and servitude–hence,
“slave of the Lord.”
8 The reading festivus, “festive,” seems preferable.
The Etymologies VII.viii.10–viii.28 167
18.Jonah means “dove” or “the mourner.” “Dove” for
his groaning, when he was in the belly of the huge fish
for three days, and “the mourner” either because of the
grief he felt for the safety of the Ninevites or because of
the suddenly withered ivy in the shade of which he took
coveragainst the heat of the sun. 19.And he is also, as the
Jews affirm, Amittai, the son of the widow of Zarephath
whom Elijah resuscitated, as his mother afterwards said
to him (III Kings 17:24 Vulgate), “Now I know that thou
art a man of God, and the word of God in thy mouth
is of truth.” For this reason the boy was called Amittai,
for Amittai, from the Hebrew, means “truth” in Latin,
and because Elijah spoke a true thing, the boy who was
resuscitated was named “the son of truth.”
20. Zechariah, “memory of the Lord,” for at the end
of the seventieth year after the destruction of the Temple
was finished, while Zechariah was preaching, the Lord
remembered his people, and by the command of Darius
the people of God returned, and both the city and
the Temple were rebuilt. 21. HaggaiinLatin signifies
“hasty” (festinus) 8 and “joyful,” for he prophesies that
the destroyed Temple is to be built, and after the grief
of the captivity he preaches the joy of the return. 22.
Malachi means “angel of the Lord,” that is, “messenger,”
for whatever he said was trusted as if commanded by the
Lord. Hence the Septuagint translates his name in this
way, saying (Malachi 1:1), “The burden of the word of
the Lord to Israel by the hand of his angel.”
23. Ezra, “the helper.” Nehemiah, “the consoler from
the Lord.” These names were allotted as a certain omen
of the future, for they were a help and a consolation for
his whole people as they returned to their homeland.
Indeed these same two rebuilt the Temple of the Lord,
and they restored the works of the walls and towers.
24. Hananiah, “the grace of God.” The same person is
also Shadrach in the Chaldean language, which means
“my handsome one.” 25. Azariah, “help of the Lord,”
and he is the same as Abednego, which is turned into
Latin as “as a slave I am silent.” 26. Mishael,“whois
the people of the Lord,” and he is also Meshach, which
means “laughter” or “joy.”
27.Ahijah, “my brother.” Shemaiah, “he who hears the
Lord.” Asaph, [“he who gathers”]. Ethan, [“the tough
one” or “he who has ascended”]. 28.Jeduthun,“hewho
leaps across those” or “he who jumps those,” for this person
called ‘the leaper across’ leapt by his singing across
certain people who were cleaving to the ground, bent