And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.

JUDGES 2:5KJV
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Judges 2:5 (KJV)

What does Judges 2:5 mean?

Judges 2:5 describes how the Israelites named a place "Bochim," which means "weepers," and offered sacrifices to the LORD there. This happened after they were confronted and deeply moved by a message from God about their disobedience.

The verse comes right after an angel of the LORD rebukes the Israelites for not fully obeying God's commands regarding the peoples and altars in the land. The people respond with sorrow and worship, gathering at this location to express their grief and seek forgiveness. The naming of the place highlights the emotional impact of the encounter and marks it as a significant moment in Israel's history.

The Hebrew behind Judges 2:5

  • בֹּכִים (Bochim, H1066): This name means "weepers" or "those who weep." The choice of this name underlines the depth of the people's sorrow and repentance at this spot.
  • זָבַח (zavach, H2076): This word means "sacrificed." The act of sacrificing here shows the people's desire to return to right relationship with the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH, H3068) after being confronted with their failings.

Why Judges 2:5 matters

  • Judges 2:5 clarifies that the people's response to God's rebuke was not just emotional but also involved a concrete act of worship, showing both sorrow and a desire to make things right.
  • The naming of the place as "Bochim" creates a lasting reminder of this turning point, connecting the physical location with the spiritual lesson learned.
  • This verse ties into the broader theme of the book of Judges, where cycles of disobedience, repentance, and deliverance are central to Israel's story.

Where else these words appear

“Bochim” Hebrew H1066 · used in 2 verses

  • Judges 2:1 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.

“sacrificed” Hebrew H2076 · used in 127 verses

  • Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
  • 1 Samuel 2:13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
  • 2 Chronicles 15:11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.