עזה

Where it comes from

Commonly explained as a feminine of עַז (áz, “strong”), but as can be seen from Ancient Greek 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) (Hebrew cognate: ג־שׁ־ר), 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.

Compare also transliterations of the Bronze Age Canaanite name into Egyptian including q-A-DA-A-ti-i-T14-N25 (qꜣḏꜣtj) in Papyrus Anastasi I and g-A-DA-t-w-N25 (gꜣḏꜣtw) in the Annals of Thutmosis III, 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).