עַזָּה
𐤏𐤆𐤄
Azah
H5804 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun referring to the ancient city of Gaza, located on the southwestern coastal plain of Canaan, significant as a major Philistine city in the Hebrew Bible. Its meaning derives from the root for strength or might, but in the biblical context it specifically identifies a geographic locale rather than an abstract quality. The term occasionally appears in poetic forms, and always refers to this place rather than a people or broader region.
Semantic Range
Gaza (city), the strong (city/place), site of Philistine power; occasionally used locatively as 'at Gaza'
Root / Etymology
From the root עז ('ʿ-z-z'), meaning 'to be strong, mighty.' The feminine formation עַזָּה likely means 'the strong (place/city).' Ultimately, the name is directly associated with geographic identity, and the etymology marks the site as a place of fortitude or prominence.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עַזָּה refers specifically to Gaza, one of the five major Philistine city-states during the monarchic period. Often found in lists of Philistine urban centers (e.g., Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel), Gaza is associated with conflict between Israelites and Philistines, such as the exploits of Samson in Judges 16. Later, the city is mentioned as a Persian and Hellenistic administrative center. In early biblical usage (e.g., Genesis 10:19), its inclusion marks the western border of Canaanite territory. English translations sometimes use 'Gaza' for עַזָּה even in texts from earlier periods, but this reflects continuity of site rather than population or ethnicity. The use of 'Palestine' in older translations or references is anachronistic for the biblical period: the context is always the Philistine city on the southwestern coast. The term 'Jew' never properly applies to the inhabitants of Gaza in any ancient biblical period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of עַז; strong; Azzah, a place in Palestine; Azzah, Gaza.
Bantu Hebrew
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עזז (ʿ-z-z) — to be strong, to prevail, to harden
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4581 | מָעוֹז | in a stronghold of |
| H4590 | מַעַזְיָה | to Yah-is-Refuge |
| H5794 | עַז | strong |
| H5795 | עֵז | in the goats |
| H5797 | עֹז | my strength |
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5804-02 |
עַזָּ֑ה | azah | HNp |
Gaza | Stronghold-city (Gaza) | 14 |
H5804-03 |
עַזָּ֑תָ/ה | azatah | HNp/Sd |
to Gaza | toward Gaza-Stronghold | 2 |
H5804-04 |
בְּ/עַזָּ֛ה | beazah | HR/Np |
in-Gaza | in Gaza | 1 |
H5804-05 |
לְ/עַזָּ֤ה | leazah | HR/Np |
for Gaza | to Stronghold-Gaza | 1 |
H5804-01 |
עַיָּ֖ה | ayah | HNp |
Ayyah | Falcon | 1 |
H5804-07 |
וְ/עַזָּה֙ | veazah | HC/Np |
and Gaza | and Stronghold-city | 1 |
H5804-06 |
מֵֽ/עַזָּ֔ה | meazah | HR/Np |
from Gaza | from Strong-City | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
21 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5804-02 |
Genesis 10:19 | עַזָּ֑ה | azah | HNp |
Gaza | Stronghold-city (Gaza) |
H5804-02 |
Deuteronomy 2:23 | עַזָּ֑ה | azah | HNp |
Gaza | Stronghold-city (Gaza) |
H5804-02 |
Joshua 10:41 | עַזָּ֑ה | azah | HNp |
Gaza | Stronghold-city (Gaza) |
H5804-04 |
Joshua 11:22 | בְּ/עַזָּ֛ה | beazah | HR/Np |
in-Gaza | in Gaza |
H5804-02 |
Joshua 15:47 | עַזָּ֥ה | azah | HNp |
Gaza | Stronghold-city (Gaza) |
H5804-02 |
Judges 1:18 | עַזָּ֣ה | azah | HNp |
Gaza | Stronghold-city (Gaza) |
H5804-02 |
Judges 6:4 | עַזָּ֑ה | azah | HNp |
Gaza | Stronghold-city (Gaza) |
H5804-03 |
Judges 16:1 | עַזָּ֑תָ/ה | azatah | HNp/Sd |
to Gaza | toward Gaza-Stronghold |
H5804-03 |
Judges 16:21 | עַזָּ֗תָ/ה | azatah | HNp/Sd |
to Gaza | toward Gaza-Stronghold |
H5804-05 |
1 Samuel 6:17 | לְ/עַזָּ֤ה | leazah | HR/Np |
for Gaza | to Stronghold-Gaza |