עזה
Hebrew
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Commonly explained as a feminine of עַז (áz, “strong”), but as can be seen from the Ancient Greek transliteration Γάζα (Gáza) and Arabic غَزَّة (ḡazza), its initial sound was originally Biblical Hebrew *ḡ, from Proto-Semitic *ḡ, so the origin was likely another root. Alternatively compare ج ز ر (j-z-r), meaning amongst other things words related to “bridge”, a reference to Gaza’s strategic position as the main crossing point on the trade route to Egypt.(Can this(+) etymology be sourced?)
Compare also transliterations of the Bronze Age Canaanite name into Egyptian including
|
(qꜣḏꜣtj) in Papyrus Anastasi I and
|
(gꜣḏꜣtw) in the Annals of Thutmosis III,[1] and Akkadian 𒌷𒄩𒍝𒋾𒆠 (URU ḫa-za-tiki /āl ḫazzati/, literally “city of Gaza”) in the Amarna Letters (e.g., EA289 line 17, with variant spellings).[2]
Pronunciation
[edit]- (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA(key): /(ʔ)aˈza/, [ˈ(ʔ)a.za]
- (Ashkenazi Hebrew) IPA(key): /a.zɔ/
- (Sephardi Hebrew) IPA(key): /ʕaˈza/, [ŋaˈza]
- (Yemenite Hebrew) IPA(key): /ʕæˈzːɔ/
- (Tiberian Hebrew) IPA(key): /ʕaˈzːɔ/
- (Biblical Hebrew) IPA(key): /ɣɑˈzːɑː/, /ʁɑˈzːɑː/
Audio: (file)
Proper noun
[edit]עַזָּה • (áza) f [pattern: קַטְלָה]
- Gaza
- Tanach, 1 Kings 5:4, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:
- כִּי־ה֞וּא רֹדֶ֣ה ׀ בְּכָל־עֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֗ר מִתִּפְסַח֙ וְעַד־עַזָּ֔ה בְּכָל־מַלְכֵ֖י עֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֑ר וְשָׁל֗וֹם הָ֥יָה ל֛וֹ מִכָּל־עֲבָרָ֖יו מִסָּבִֽיב׃
- For he had dominion over all the region on this side the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side the River; and he had peace on all sides round about him.
- 2019 April 9, Rami Younis, “כשאתם מצביעים, חשבו על המליונים שתחת מצור בעזה וסגר בגדה [When you vote, think about the milions under siege in Gaza and under curfew in the West Bank]”, in Local Call[1]:
- חשבו על הצלפים המוסריים בעולם שיורים בילדים ונשים שמפגינים בעזה.
- Think about world's most moral snipers who shoot children and women protesting in Gaza.
Related terms
[edit]- רצועת עזה (r'tsu'át áza, “Gaza Strip”)