Judges 2:5 Meaning: When Weeping Leads to Sacrifice
They called the name of that place Bochim, and they sacrificed there to Yahweh.
And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the Lord.
And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto Jehovah.
and they call the name of that place Bochim, and sacrifice there to Jehovah.
And they called the name of that place Bochim; and they sacrificed there to Jehovah.
Meaning in one sentence
After the angel's rebuke, Israel wept at Bochim and offered sacrifices. This verse shows that true repentance moves from grief over sin to worship of God.
Context
The book of Judges begins where Joshua left off. After Joshua's death, Israel failed to fully obey God's command to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan. In chapter 2, the angel of the Lord confronts them at Bochim, likely near Shiloh. He reminds them of God's faithfulness and their disobedience. The people are cut to the heart. They weep loudly, and they name the place Bochim, which means 'weepers.' But they do not stop at tears. They offer sacrifices to Yahweh, seeking atonement and renewal. This moment sits between the generations that knew Joshua and the cycles of rebellion and deliverance that follow. It is a brief pause of honesty and worship.
Key Words
The name Bochim comes from a Hebrew word that simply means 'weepings' or 'lamentations.' The people gave their location a name that honored their moment of grief before God. It was a way of saying: we will remember this sorrow. The word translated 'sacrificed' is zavach, the ordinary word for slaughtering an animal as an offering. This was not a cheap gift. It cost the worshiper something. And they offered it to Yahweh, the covenant God who had just confronted them. The tears admitted their guilt. The sacrifice asked for mercy. Together, they show what repentance looks like: honest sorrow that dares to seek forgiveness through the very means God has provided.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions agree that the weeping at Bochim was genuine grief over sin, but they highlight different aspects. Many Reformed commentators, like Matthew Henry, see this as a model of how God's word brings conviction that leads to worship. Baptist expositor John Gill notes that the sacrifice was offered there because the angel appeared, making it a holy place. Keil and Delitzsch, representing Lutheran scholarship, emphasize that the angel was no ordinary messenger but the Lord Himself, so the sacrifice was proper. Catholic tradition, while not commenting directly on this verse, would see the offering as a fitting expression of contrition and worship. All recognize that tears alone are not enough; the sacrifice shows the people turned toward God.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume that because Israel wept and named the place 'Weepers,' their tears were the main point. They think God wanted their grief. In fact, the tears were a response to the rebuke, but the sacrifice was the act that showed repentance. Grief over sin is not the same as turning from it. The verse pairs weeping with sacrifice to show that conviction must lead to concrete action seeking atonement.
Living This Out
If you are carrying a specific failure this week, it is honest to let yourself feel the weight of it. Tears can be a gift. But the example of Bochim invites you to take a step further. Name your failure honestly before God, then bring it to Him through the means He has provided. For the Christian, that means confessing to Christ, trusting that His sacrifice covers what ours never could. You might mark the moment with a specific act: a prayer of confession written down, a conversation with a trusted believer, or a deliberate choice to receive communion with a humble heart. The place of your weeping can become a place of worship.
Main takeaway: When God’s rebuke brings tears, true repentance does not end with grief but reaches toward God in worship.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The people did something wrong and felt very sad. They cried a lot and called the place 'Weeping.' But they didn't just cry. They gave a gift to God to say sorry. When you do something wrong, you can say sorry and try to make it right.
For ages 9, 12
The Israelites realized they had disobeyed God, and they wept. But they knew that tears alone weren't enough to fix their relationship with God. So they offered sacrifices, which was God's way of showing that sin costs something and forgiveness is possible. Their weeping turned into worship. When you mess up, it's good to feel sorry, but the next step is to bring it to God and receive His forgiveness.
Questions People Ask
What does Bochim mean?
Bochim is a Hebrew word that means 'weepers' or 'lamentations.' It comes from the same root as the word for weeping. The people named the place after their tears.
Why did the people offer sacrifices at Bochim?
They offered sacrifices to atone for their sin and to seek God's mercy after being rebuked by the angel. The sacrifice was an act of repentance, not just an emotional reaction.
Was it wrong to sacrifice at Bochim instead of at the tabernacle?
Most commentators agree that because the angel of the Lord appeared there, the location was sanctified. John Gill notes that in places where God revealed Himself, sacrifices could be offered legitimately.
Did Israel's repentance at Bochim last?
This moment of repentance did not prevent the cycles of rebellion that follow in Judges. However, the verse shows that God accepted their sincere offering at that time, even if the people later fell away.
What does this verse teach about repentance?
True repentance involves both sorrow for sin and a turning toward God through the means He provides. The weeping named the place; the sacrifice restored the relationship. Grief alone is not enough.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study