Topical Encyclopedia In biblical literature, the term "cistern" is often used figuratively to convey spiritual truths and moral lessons. A cistern, in its literal sense, is a receptacle for holding water, typically rainwater, which was essential in the arid regions of the ancient Near East. Figuratively, cisterns are employed in Scripture to illustrate concepts of spiritual sustenance, idolatry, and the consequences of forsaking God.One of the most poignant figurative uses of "cistern" is found in the book of Jeremiah. The prophet Jeremiah, speaking on behalf of the Lord, laments the spiritual state of Israel: "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water" (Jeremiah 2:13). Here, the cistern symbolizes the futile and self-destructive efforts of the Israelites to find spiritual fulfillment apart from God. The "broken cisterns" represent false gods and idolatrous practices that ultimately fail to provide the life-giving sustenance that only the true God can offer. The imagery of cisterns also appears in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. In Proverbs, the cistern is used metaphorically to describe the importance of faithfulness in marriage: "Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well" (Proverbs 5:15). This passage encourages fidelity and satisfaction within the bounds of one's own marriage, warning against the dangers of infidelity and the pursuit of illicit relationships. In the broader biblical narrative, the concept of a cistern can be seen as a metaphor for the human heart or soul, which is designed to be filled with the living water of God's presence and truth. When individuals turn away from God and seek fulfillment in worldly pursuits or false ideologies, they are likened to those who dig broken cisterns—efforts that are ultimately empty and unsatisfying. The New Testament further develops the theme of living water, with Jesus Christ offering Himself as the source of eternal life. In John 4:14, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well, "But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life" . This promise contrasts sharply with the broken cisterns of idolatry and self-reliance, emphasizing the sufficiency and abundance of life found in Christ alone. Thus, the figurative use of "cistern" in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the futility of seeking satisfaction apart from God and the abundant life available through a relationship with Him. Nave's Topical Index 2 Kings 18:31Listen not to Hezekiah: for thus said the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat you every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink you every one the waters of his cistern: Nave's Topical Index Proverbs 5:15 Ecclesiastes 12:6 Library Jesus at the Well of Sychar Baptism. The Woman of Samaria. Exegetic. The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem: Resources What is the significance of Dothan in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgThe Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is patience? | GotQuestions.org What did it mean to tear one's clothes in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Cistern: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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