בָּכָא
𐤁𐤊𐤀
Bâkâʼ
H1056 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name designating a specific geographical location—a valley named Baca. The name may relate etymologically to 'weeping', possibly signifying a 'valley of weeping', but some interpret it as referring to a type of tree or plant (e.g., balsam, mulberry) that exudes sap, aligning with the root meaning 'to weep' metaphorically. It occurs as a toponym and is not used for common nouns.
Semantic Range
proper name of a valley (Baca); figurative sense of 'weeping' (by association with the root); possible reference to a type of tree or resinous plant (by folk etymology or poetic imagery)
Root / Etymology
From the root בכה ('to weep'). In the name בָּכָא (Baca), the form reflects a noun possibly constructed from the verbal root, giving either a literal or figurative designation to the valley (either referencing the action of weeping or a characteristic of the location such as 'weeping trees' or the act of weeping). The precise referent of 'Baca' is uncertain; it may be a descriptive term based on flora or a symbolic reference to sorrow.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בָּכָא (Baca) appears in Psalm 84:6 as 'valley of Baca.' The unique biblical occurrence is poetic, likely symbolizing a place of difficulty, hardship, or transition, through which pilgrims pass. Some classical and medieval interpretations identify Baca with a species of tree (possibly balsam or mulberry) known for resin that appears as tears, thus associating the toponym with the visual idea of weeping. The geographical location is uncertain; no confirmed external historical or archaeological identification exists. English translations sometimes preserve 'Baca' as a transliteration, while others, influenced by the Hebrew root, render it 'Valley of Weeping.' The term does not appear to designate a settled Israelite or foreign territory but functions as an evocative landmark in the pilgrimage imagery of the psalm.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּכָה, weeping; Baca, a valley in Palestine; Baca.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בכה (b-k-h) — to weep, to shed tears
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1057 | בָּכָא | weeping-resin trees |
| H1058 | בָּכָה | he wept |
| H1059 | בֶּכֶה | weeping |
| H1065 | בְּכִי | in the weeping |
| H1066 | בֹּכִים | Weepers |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1056-01 |
הַ֭/בָּכָא | habakha | HTd/Ncmsa |
of Baca | the Weeping-Valley | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1056-01 |
Psalms 84:7 | הַ֭/בָּכָא | habakha | HTd/Ncmsa |
of Baca | the Weeping-Valley |