על שינוי השמות כ״וOn the Change of Names 26
א׳
1[145] Such is the meaning of “from her.” Let us now examine the third part of the phrase used, namely “child.” First then we may well wonder why He does not say He will give many children, but will grant one only. Why? Because excellence cannot be estimated by number but rather by value.
ב׳
2[146] For, to take examples at random, there are ever so many musical, grammatical and geometrical things, and just and prudent and courageous and temperate things, but music and grammar and geometry in the abstract and again justice and temperance and prudence and courage in the abstract are each of them one thing, the original, the same as the archetypal idea, and from this origin the many and indeed infinite particulars have been formed.
ג׳
3[147] So much for His saying that He will give one, but the word actually used in this passage, “bairn,” is used not without care or consideration. He wishes to shew that the child is not alien or supposititious, nor again adopted or bastard, but the truly genuine and free-natured offspring of a free-born soul. For “bairn” derived from “bearing” is used to bring out the affinity which is the natural tie between parents and children.