Dear questioner,

Thank you for your question.

Answering your question, Dr. Jasser Auda, Professor and Al-Shatibi Chair of Maqasid Studies at the International Peace College South Africa, states:

This is one of the Quranic signs of the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as mentioned in the previous Scriptures. In the Quran, the context in which Mecca is called Bakkah/Baca in the Quran is a context of dialogue with the "People of the Book".

{All food was lawful unto the children of Israel, save what Israel had made unlawful unto itself [by its sinning] before the Torah was bestowed from on high. Say: "Come forward, then, with the Torah and recite it, if what you say is true!" And all who henceforth invent lies about God - it is they, they who are evildoers! Say: "God has spoken the truth: follow, then, the creed of Abraham, who turned away from all that is false, and was not of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God." -Behold, the first Temple ever set up for mankind was indeed the one at Bakkah: rich in blessing, and a [source of] guidance unto all the worlds, full of clear messages. [It is] the place whereon Abraham once stood; and whoever enters it finds inner peace. Hence, pilgrimage unto the Temple is a duty owed to God by all people who are able to undertake it. And as for those who deny the truth - verily, God does not stand in need of anything in all the worlds. Say: "O followers of earlier revelation! Why do you refuse to acknowledge the truth of God's messages, when God is witness to all that you do?"} (Quran 3:93-98)  

First, God is asking the People of the Book to "bring the Torah and recite it." Afterwards, when God mentioned Mecca, He mentioned it with its name in the Torah. In nowadays Old Testament, despite ages of changes, the name Baca survives in one of the Psalms, which a close look at reveals a sign of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

According to King James Version, Psalm 84 goes:

⁴Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
⁵Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
⁶Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

In the New King James Version, the same verses read:

⁴Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah

⁵Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.

⁶As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools.

And according to the New International Version, the same verses read:

⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah

⁵ Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

⁶ As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

"Pilgrims" who "dwell in Your house", "passing through the Valley of Baca", and the "well" are all clear indications of Muslim pilgrims who visit God's house in "Baca"/Makkah and drink from Zamzam "well".

Additionally, it is interesting to note that some latest versions of the Bible have simply omitted any mention of "pilgrimage" and even the name "Baca" itself from these verses. For example, the Contemporary English Version (CEV), intriguingly, reads as follows: (and notice the footnote!)

⁴You bless everyone who lives in your house, and they sing your praises.

⁵You bless all who depend on you for their strength and all who deeply desire to visit your temple.

⁶When they reach Dry Valley, (84.6 Dry Valley: Or "Balsam Tree Valley." The exact location is not known) springs start flowing, and the autumn rain fills it with pools of water.

So, I believe that mentioning Mecca by the name "Baca" in these verses is a sign for those who are willing to accept the truth from the People of the Book.

We hope this answers your question.

Keep in touch.