← Back to Lexicon
H1012 · Hebrew · Old Testament
בְּרָכָה
Berakah
Noun, proper place name
Valley of Blessing

Definition

The Hebrew Berakah (Strong's H1012) means 'blessing' and appears as a proper place name — the Valley of Berachah (Blessing) — where Jehoshaphat's army gathered to bless God after a miraculous military victory. The root barak (H1288) underlies the name, connecting the place to the act of bending the knee in worship and gratitude.

Usage & Theological Significance

The Valley of Berakah stands as one of Scripture's great monuments to worship born of deliverance. When a vast coalition of enemies threatened Judah, Jehoshaphat and the people sought God through fasting and prayer. God answered: 'The battle is not yours, but God's' (2 Chronicles 20:15). After the enemy destroyed itself, Judah gathered in this valley to bless and praise the LORD — and the valley was named Berachah forever. This narrative is a paradigm of faith: when we cannot fight, we worship; when God delivers, we bless.

Key Bible Verses

2 Chronicles 20:26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the LORD. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Berachah to this day.
2 Chronicles 20:15 Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.
2 Chronicles 20:22 When they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir.
Psalm 103:1 Bless (barak) the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Nehemiah 9:5 Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name.

Related Words