Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, October 31st, 2024
the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Bible Dictionaries
Baca

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Babylon, Mystical
Next Entry
Bachrites
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

(Psalms 84:6). "Valley of Baca". i.e. "the vale of tears" (compare Bochim, Judges 2:5, "the place of weepers.") The Hebrew form in Psalms 84:6 means "mulberry trees." The Hebrew poet, by a play on the name, refers to the similarly sounding word for "tears." The Baca (mulberry) trees delight in a dry valley; such as the ravine of Hinnom below mount Zion, where the bacaim (mulberry trees) are expressly mentioned on the ridge separating the valley of Rephaim from that of Hinnom (2 Samuel 5:23).

Abulfadl says Βaca is the Arabic for a balsam-like shrub with round large fruit, from which if a leaf be plucked a tear-like drop exudes. As the valley of Baca represents a valley of drought spiritually and dejection, where the only water is that of "tears," so the pilgrim's "making it a well" (by having "his strength in Jehovah") symbolizes ever flowing comfort and salvation (John 4:14; Isaiah 12:3; compare Psalms 23:4). David, to whom Psalm 84 refers, passed through such a valley of drought and tears when, fleeing from Absalom, he went up mount Olivet weeping as he went.

Bibliography Information
Fausset, Andrew R. Entry for 'Baca'. Fausset's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​fbd/​b/baca.html. 1949.
 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile