-ihah
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The suffix -ihah or -hah is used in several names in the Book of Mormon and in other works written or purportedly translated by Joseph Smith. Some have interpreted it as a variant of the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, often appearing as YAH or Jah, as in Hallelujah, and which sometimes appears in the form YHH among the 5th century B.C. Aramaic Jewish papyri found at Elephantine, Egypt. However, -ihah does not appear in transliterations of Hebrew names outside of the Book of Mormon.
Examples in the Book of Mormon:
- Ammonihah, Nephite city (cf. Ammon)
- Cumenihah, Nephite military commander (cf. Cumeni)
- Limhah, Nephite military commander
- Mathonihah, Nephite disciple of Christ (cf. Mathoni)
- Moronihah, three Nephite generals and a city (cf. Captain Moroni, Moron, Moroni)
- Nephihah, Nephite judge and city (cf. Nephi)
- Onihah, Nephite city
- Orihah, Jaredite king
- Zemnarihah, Gadianton robber
Examples in other LDS writings:
- Hanannihah, land seen by Enoch in the Book of Moses
- Olihah, code name for Oliver Cowdery in early editions of the Doctrine and Covenants
- Shinehah, word used for the sun in the Book of Abraham
The suffix is well-known among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is sometimes used whimsically to give a name a Book of Mormon feel. For instance, Pat Bagley's book I Spy a Nephite (similar to Where's Waldo, but with a Book of Mormon theme) features a dog named Rover-hah.