[Avodah] Names ending with -ah or -ahu

[Micha Berger]

On Tue, Aug 26, 2025 at 12:38:11PM -0400, Akiva Miller via Avodah wrote:
> (I did try to research this in my Concordance. It seems that Tanach refers
> to Yeshayahu exclusively with the final vav; there is a Yeshaya, but that's
> a totally different person...

I the US, where "Micha" is a rare name, the other party often gets my
name wrong. My usual answer to the response "Michl?" is:
>> No, "Micha". Like in Shofetim or in Terei Asar; you can decide which
>> once you get to know me better.

Usage of Mikhayahu is closer to Yeshayahu than Yirmiyahu.

Shofetim 17 refers to "Mikhayhu" in pesuqim 1 and 4. But after introducing
the person Mikhayhu and the Temple Beis Mikhayahu, the name used is Mikhah.
(Pesuqim 5, 8, 9, 10, 12 (2x), 13, pereq 18 (12x).)

I don't know where I picked this up (ie I didn't find a source last
night), but my understanding is that the idol-maker was Mikhayahu,
and that's why he is introduced as such. But because of who he was,
once you know who we are talking about, Shemu'el haNavi switches to a
form of the name that involves less Sheim Hashem.


Mikhayehu ben Yimla, a contemporary of Melekh Yehoshafat (Melakhim I
pereq 22, DhY II peraqim 17-18) is always Mikhayahu.

Similarly Mikhayhu ben Gemaryahu (Yirmiyah[u] 36) is never called Mikhah
or ben Gemaryah.


However, Mikhah haMorashti (Yirmiyahu 26:18, book of Mikhah) is never
called Mikhayahu.

Same for Mikhah ben Riv Baal (Riv Baal = Pi Boshes, Shemu'el apparently
felt that naming a son after Baal was a source of embarassment) - DhY I
pereq 8. And Mikhah ben Uzziel (Ibid peraqim 23-24).


With so many only called by one of the names, and an excuse to explain
Mikha[yahu]h ben Yehonasan ben Gershom ben M[en]asheh, I concluded they were
different names.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger                 If you're going through hell
http://www.aishdas.org/asp   keep going.
Author: Widen Your Tent                      - Winston Churchill
- https://amzn.to/2JRxnDF