Lexical Summary
baka: balsam trees
Original Word:בָּכָא
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:baka'
Pronunciation:baw-KAH
Phonetic Spelling:(baw-kaw')
KJV: mulberry tree
NASB:balsam trees
Word Origin:[the same asH1056 (בָּכָא - Baca)]
1. the weeping tree (some gum- distilling tree, perhaps the balsam)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
mulberry tree
The same asBaka'; the weeping tree (some gum- distilling tree, perhaps the balsam) -- mulberry tree.
see HEBREWBaka'
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
BakaDefinitionbalsam tree
NASB Translationbalsam trees (4).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(see Arabic
Dozy
ZMG 1869, 188 but Löw
No. 47; according to TA like
, an
eruca, compare Lane under the word; perhaps compare
give little milk, of camel, i.e.
drop, drip); plural
2 Samuel 5:23,24 =
1 Chronicles 14:14,15; singular in
Psalm 84:7balsam-vale, compare De Che.
Topical Lexicon
Physical and Botanical Profileבָּכָא designates a specific kind of tree native to the limestone slopes southwest of Jerusalem—almost certainly the balsam (Commiphora opobalsamum) whose branches “weep” fragrant resin. The Hebrew root speaks of “weeping,” a detail preserved in English translations that speak of “balsam” or formerly “mulberry.” Ancient writers prized the plant’s gum for medicine and perfume; its slow-flowing sap offered a concrete picture of tears shed yet also of healing released.
Biblical Setting
All four occurrences appear in the parallel narratives of David’s second conflict with the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:23-24;1 Chronicles 14:14-15). The scene is the Valley of Rephaim, a fertile depression immediately south of Jerusalem. Because the balsam grew in clusters, the site became a recognizable landmark: “in front of the balsam trees.” The text never treats the trees as sacred objects; rather, they mark the place where Yahweh intervenes for His anointed king.
Divine Strategy and Spiritual Warfare
David “inquired of the LORD” and was instructed to wait until he heard “the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees” (2 Samuel 5:24) before advancing. The rustling leaves signaled that the LORD Himself had moved ahead of Israel’s army. Dependence on that signal emphasized at least three theological truths:
1. Victory is granted by the LORD, not secured merely by human force (Psalm 20:7).
2. Patience and obedience are indispensable; premature action would cancel the promise (Proverbs 3:5-6).
3. God’s presence is perceivable—even audible—by those who listen (Isaiah 30:21;John 10:27).
Symbolism of Weeping and Healing
The trees that “weep” resin transform pain into balm. In the same valley where sap dripped like tears, God turned David’s danger into triumph. The imagery resonates withPsalm 84:6, where pilgrims make the “Valley of Baca” (a cognate term) “a place of springs.” Both texts depict the LORD converting sorrow into refreshment. For ministry, the picture encourages believers to expect God to redeem seasons of tears, producing comfort for others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Echoes of the Holy Spirit’s Activity
The unseen but audible stir in the treetops provides an Old-Testament anticipation of Pentecost’s “sound like a mighty rushing wind” (Acts 2:2). In each case God signals His prior engagement and empowers His people to act. The balsam’s fragrance further hints at the Spirit’s work, for New-Testament writers link the knowledge of Christ to a spreading aroma (2 Corinthians 2:14-15).
Lessons for Leadership and Ministry
• Seek direction before every battle; yesterday’s strategy may not fit today’s challenge.
• Wait for the divine cue, no matter how pressing the threat appears.
• Expect God to speak through ordinary surroundings—a copse of trees, a stirring wind—yet always consistent with Scripture.
• Remember that places of former conflict can become testimonies of deliverance; the very trees that witnessed warfare remained as living memorials of God’s faithfulness.
Historical Continuity
Later Jewish tradition located a “Balsam Valley” near En-gedi, famous in the inter-testamental period for its aromatic trade. Though geography shifted, memory kept linking balsam with divine provision. Early Christian pilgrims recounted the same association, underscoring Scripture’s geographical reliability.
Christological Perspective
David’s listening kingship prefigures the greater Son of David, Jesus Christ, who “did nothing of His own initiative” but acted as the Father directed (John 5:19). At Gethsemane—an olive grove not far from Rephaim—the obedient King again waited for the Father’s signal, exchanging His own tears for the healing of nations (Isaiah 53:5).
Summary
בָּכָא, the balsam tree, stands at the intersection of sight, sound, and scent: visible landmark, audible sign, fragrant witness. In David’s account it marks the boundary between human effort and divine action. Its weeping sap becomes an emblem of God’s ability to turn lament into balm, warfare into worship, and peril into proof that “The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:7).
Forms and Transliterations
בְּכָאִֽים׃ בכאים׃ הַבְּכָאִ֔ים הַבְּכָאִ֖ים הַבְּכָאִֽים׃ הבכאים הבכאים׃ bə·ḵā·’îm bechaIm bəḵā’îm hab·bə·ḵā·’îm habbechaIm habbəḵā’îm
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