On the Nobility and Excellence of the Female Sex

HENRY CORNELIUS AGRIPPA

...will finally be settled and firm, when this very thing (which is our goal) has been shown not with adulterated or painted words, nor even with those logical snares with which many sophists are accustomed to entrap people, but rather through the patronage of the best authors, through truthful histories of deeds, and through clear reasons, as well as the testimonies of Sacred Scripture and the decrees of both laws The "both laws" (utriusque iuris) refers to Civil Law (Roman) and Canon Law (Church), which formed the foundation of legal authority in the Renaissance..

Therefore, to begin the matter itself: Woman was made so much more excellent than man Genesis 3 as she received a more excellent name than he. For Adam means "earth," original: "Adam terram sonat." Agrippa refers to the Hebrew etymology connecting the name Adam with 'adamah', meaning ground or red earth. whereas Eve is interpreted as "life." original: "Eva autem vita interpretatur." Based on Genesis 3:20, where Eve is named because she is "the mother of all living." Just as life itself is more excellent than earth, so too is woman to be preferred over man. Nor should it be said that this is a weak argument—to pass judgment on things themselves based on their names. For we know that the supreme craftsman of things and names knew the things before he named them; since he could not be deceived, he fashioned the names only so far In the Novels, under the title 'On the definition of meanings,' column 3, at the beginning; in the Institutes, 'On Donations'; and in the Digest, there is another. as they might express the nature, properties, and use of the thing. For such is the truth of ancient names, as Roman laws also testify, that they are in harmony with the things themselves and are fittingly significant of them. Therefore, an argument drawn from names is of great weight among theologians and legal scholars. Just as we read it written concerning Nabal: "according to his name he is a fool, and folly is with him." Nabal is a biblical figure whose name literally translates to "fool" or "senseless." From this, Paul, in his Epistle to the Hebrews, Hebrews 1 intending to show the excellence of Christ, uses this argument, saying: "Because he was made so much better than the angels, Philippians 2 as he has inherited a more excellent name than they." And elsewhere: "He gave to him a na—" The text cuts off mid-word, referring to the "name which is above every name" mentioned in Philippians 2:9.