עזה

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), the initial sound was originally 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.

• (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/

עַזָּה • ('áza) f [pattern: קַטְלָה]

1. Gaza
   • 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.

   • a. 230 C.E., Tosefta, Sotah 3:4:

     ‏רבי אומר תחלת קלקלתו היתה בעזה אף עונשו לא היתה אלא בעזה‎‎

     Rabbi says: The beginning of his corruption was in Gaza, so his punishment was nowhere else but in Gaza.

   • 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:

     ‏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.

• רצועת עזה‎

• H5804 in Strong, James (1979) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible

• זעה‎