Av is the Hebrew for father, and its weight in the Tanakh is covenant, not just biology. The semantic field includes origin, clan head, covenant founder, and most importantly the one whose character shapes the children. When YHWH is called Israel's father, the word is doing real theological work. It names who gave Israel her life, who bound Himself to her generations, and whose image her life is meant to bear.

English translations have flattened av into sentiment or title. The Hebrew holds both source and shape. Isaiah 63:16 reads kee attah avinu, "for You are our father," not because Israel is being affectionate but because Israel's covenant identity descends from YHWH's own self. David writes in Psalm 89:26, attah avi attah el sur yeshuati, "You are my father, my God, the rock of my salvation," fusing av to el to the rock. That is not three metaphors. It is one covenant identity in three weights. Av is the first.