Jeremiah 2:13

KJV

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

KJV (with Strong's)

For my people {H5971} have committed {H6213} two {H8147} evils {H7451}; they have forsaken {H5800} me the fountain {H4726} of living {H2416} waters {H4325}, and hewed them out {H2672} cisterns {H877}, broken {H7665} cisterns {H877}, that can hold {H3557} no water {H4325}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"For my people have committed two evils: they have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water!

Berean Standard Bible

“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.

American Standard Version

For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 2:13 delivers a profound indictment against the people of Judah, articulating their dual transgression against Yahweh. Through a powerful and poignant metaphor, God reveals that His people have committed two fundamental evils: first, abandoning Him, the inexhaustible "fountain of living waters," the sole source of true life and spiritual nourishment; and second, futilely attempting to provide for themselves by "hewing out cisterns," man-made, cracked, and ultimately useless reservoirs that cannot retain the vital sustenance they seek. This verse encapsulates the core message of Jeremiah's early prophecies, highlighting Israel's spiritual adultery and their misguided pursuit of false gods and human-devised solutions over divine provision.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 2 marks the beginning of a series of oracles against Judah, delivered by the prophet Jeremiah early in his ministry (likely during the reign of King Josiah, before the final downfall of Jerusalem). This chapter serves as a divine lawsuit, a *rib* or covenant lawsuit, where God presents His case against His unfaithful people. The preceding verses (Jeremiah 2:1-12) recount God's faithful love for Israel in their youth, contrasting it sharply with their subsequent apostasy and ingratitude. Verse 13, therefore, functions as a climactic summary of their transgression, using a vivid metaphor to underscore the absurdity and tragedy of their actions. It sets the stage for the detailed accusations of idolatry and covenant breaking that follow in the rest of the chapter and indeed, the entire book.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Water was, and remains, an indispensable commodity in the arid Near East. Ancient Israel relied heavily on natural springs, wells, and collected rainwater. "Living waters" (Hebrew: *mayim chayim*) specifically referred to fresh, flowing spring water, which was highly valued for its purity and constant supply, symbolizing life and divine blessing. In contrast, cisterns were man-made pits, often carved into limestone bedrock, designed to collect and store rainwater. While essential for survival, cisterns were dependent on seasonal rains, could become stagnant, and were prone to cracking, leading to leakage and loss of precious water. This cultural reality makes the metaphor intensely relatable and impactful: the people have rejected the ever-flowing, pure source for unreliable, self-made, and ultimately broken alternatives. This spiritual betrayal occurred against a backdrop of increasing syncretism and idolatry, where Judah was adopting the worship practices of surrounding nations, forsaking the covenant with Yahweh.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 2:13 powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes prevalent in the book of Jeremiah and throughout the prophetic tradition. The most prominent is **Covenant Infidelity**, as Israel, God's chosen people, has broken their sacred covenant by abandoning their divine Husband and pursuing other gods, likened to spiritual adultery (a theme further developed in [Jeremiah 3:1-5](/jeremiah/3-1 "Jeremiah 3:1-5 - Israel's Spiritual Adultery")). This leads directly to the theme of **Idolatry and Futility**, where the "broken cisterns" represent the emptiness and ultimate failure of relying on anything other than God for sustenance, security, or salvation. God's lament in this verse also highlights His **Divine Lament and Unwavering Love**, expressing sorrow over His people's foolish choices despite His constant provision. Furthermore, the imagery of God as the "fountain of living waters" emphasizes His **Sufficiency and Life-Giving Nature**, portraying Him as the sole, abundant, and inexhaustible source of true life, blessing, and spiritual satisfaction, a theme echoed profoundly in passages like [Psalm 36:9](/psalms/36-9 "Psalm 36:9 - God as the Fountain of Life")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Forsaken (Hebrew, _ʻâzab'_):** This word (H5800) means "to loosen, relinquish, permit, etc.; commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse." In this context, it carries the profound weight of abandonment and betrayal. It's not merely a casual departure but a deliberate act of turning away from a relationship, specifically the covenant relationship with God. The people have actively chosen to sever their ties with the very source of their existence and blessing.
* **Fountain (Hebrew, _mâqôwr'_):** This term (H4726) refers to "something dug, i.e. a (general) source (of water, even when naturally flowing; also of tears, blood... figuratively, of happiness, wisdom, progeny)." Here, it specifically denotes a natural, flowing spring or wellspring, emphasizing an inherent, continuous, and self-replenishing supply. When applied to God, it highlights His intrinsic nature as the origin and sustainer of all life, joy, wisdom, and spiritual vitality, contrasting sharply with anything man-made or finite.
* **Broken (Hebrew, _shâbar'_):** This word (H7665) means "to burst (literally or figuratively); break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken (-hearted), crush, destroy, hurt." The description of the cisterns as "broken" is crucial. It signifies not just imperfection but fundamental defectiveness. These man-made alternatives are inherently flawed, incapable of fulfilling their intended purpose, and ultimately lead to disappointment and spiritual drought. The breaking is a consequence of their construction, not an external force, implying the inherent futility of human efforts apart from God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For my people have committed two evils":** This opening clause immediately establishes the gravity of the situation. God, speaking through Jeremiah, identifies Himself as "my" people's God, emphasizing the covenant relationship that has been violated. The use of "two evils" highlights a deliberate, conscious, and dual transgression, not a single, isolated mistake. These are not minor infractions but foundational acts of rebellion against their divine benefactor.
* **"they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters":** This is the first and primary evil. The people have abandoned Yahweh, who is metaphorically depicted as an ever-flowing spring—a source of fresh, life-giving water. This imagery conveys God's nature as the sole, pure, and inexhaustible provider of spiritual life, sustenance, and blessing. To forsake Him is to cut oneself off from the very essence of life and true satisfaction.
* **"[and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water":** This is the second evil, a direct consequence and manifestation of the first. Having abandoned the true source, the people have resorted to their own efforts ("hewed them out cisterns") to find satisfaction. The repeated phrase "broken cisterns" emphasizes their utter futility and inherent flaw. These man-made alternatives—whether idols, alliances, human wisdom, or self-reliance—are incapable of providing the spiritual nourishment and security that only God can offer. They are like cracked vessels that cannot retain water, symbolizing ultimate disappointment and spiritual drought.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 2:13 is rich with literary artistry that amplifies its theological message. The most prominent device is **Metaphor**, where God is directly compared to a "fountain of living waters," and the people's misguided pursuits are likened to "broken cisterns." This central metaphor is highly effective, drawing on a universal human need (water) to explain a profound spiritual truth. The **Contrast** or **Antithesis** between the "fountain of living waters" and the "broken cisterns" is stark and powerful, highlighting the vast difference between divine provision and human futility. The fountain represents natural, abundant, pure, and constant life, while the cisterns symbolize artificial, limited, stagnant, and ultimately ineffective substitutes. Furthermore, there is an element of **Personification** in God's lament, as He expresses sorrow and indignation over His people's choices, portraying Him not as a distant deity but as a grieved benefactor. The **Repetition** of "cisterns" and the emphatic "broken cisterns" serves to underscore the utter worthlessness and hopelessness of their self-made solutions.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 2:13 stands as a foundational text for understanding the nature of sin as a twofold rejection of God's sufficiency and a futile pursuit of self-reliance. Theologically, it underscores God's identity as the sole source of life, truth, and genuine satisfaction, contrasting His infinite provision with the inherent emptiness of all created things when elevated to the status of ultimate good. The "two evils" reveal humanity's propensity to turn away from the Creator and toward the creation, a fundamental act of idolatry that inevitably leads to spiritual barrenness and disappointment. This verse is a divine lament, expressing God's sorrow over His people's foolish choices, revealing His persistent love even in the face of their profound unfaithfulness. It challenges believers to continually examine where they seek their deepest nourishment and security.

* [Psalm 36:9](/psalms/36-9 "Psalm 36:9 - God as the Fountain of Life")
* [Isaiah 55:1-2](/isaiah/55-1 "Isaiah 55:1-2 - Invitation to the Waters")
* [Revelation 21:6](/revelation/21-6 "Revelation 21:6 - God as the Spring of the Water of Life")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 2:13 serves as a timeless mirror, reflecting the human tendency to abandon the ultimate source of life and pursue fleeting, self-made alternatives. In our contemporary context, the "fountain of living waters" represents God Himself—His Word, His Spirit, His presence, His grace, and His perfect will—as the true wellspring of spiritual vitality, peace, and purpose. The "broken cisterns" manifest in countless forms: the relentless pursuit of material wealth, the idolization of career success, the insatiable craving for social media validation, the reliance on human relationships for ultimate fulfillment, or the belief that personal achievements can secure lasting happiness. These are all attempts to "hew out" our own cisterns, promising satisfaction but ultimately proving incapable of holding the "water" our souls truly thirst for. This verse calls us to a radical re-evaluation of our priorities, urging us to recognize the futility of seeking life in anything apart from the Giver of life. It’s an invitation to return to the inexhaustible source, to drink deeply from the fountain that never runs dry, and to find our complete satisfaction in Him alone.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you be "hewing out cisterns" instead of drawing from the "fountain of living waters"?**
* **What are some contemporary "broken cisterns" that people commonly rely on for satisfaction or security?**
* **How can you more intentionally turn to God as your primary source of nourishment and fulfillment in your daily life?**
* **What steps can you take to deepen your reliance on God's provision and resist the temptation to self-sufficiency?**

### FAQ
**What does "living waters" mean in this context?**

Answer: In the ancient Near East, "living waters" (Hebrew: *mayim chayim*) referred specifically to fresh, flowing water from a natural spring or stream, as opposed to stagnant water collected in a cistern or pool. It symbolized purity, freshness, and an inexhaustible supply. Spiritually, when God describes Himself as the "fountain of living waters" in [Jeremiah 2:13](/jeremiah/2-13 "Jeremiah 2:13 - The Two Evils"), it signifies His nature as the dynamic, life-giving, and eternally self-replenishing source of all spiritual vitality, sustenance, and blessing for His people. It contrasts with anything finite, stagnant, or man-made.

**What are the "two evils" committed by God's people?**

Answer: As stated in [Jeremiah 2:13](/jeremiah/2-13 "Jeremiah 2:13 - The Two Evils"), the two evils are: 1) "they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters," meaning they abandoned God, the true and only source of life and spiritual nourishment. This is a profound act of covenant infidelity and spiritual betrayal. 2) They "hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." This refers to their futile attempts to find satisfaction, security, and sustenance in human-made alternatives, such as idols, foreign alliances, or self-reliance, which are ultimately empty, unreliable, and incapable of providing what is truly needed. These two evils are intrinsically linked: the abandonment of God leads directly to the pursuit of false and ultimately disappointing substitutes.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The vivid imagery of God as the "fountain of living waters" in Jeremiah 2:13 finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament reveals God as the life-giving source, the New Testament reveals that this divine life flows uniquely through Christ. Jesus Himself declared, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'" ([John 7:37-38](/john/7-37 "John 7:37-38 - Rivers of Living Water")). He offered the Samaritan woman at the well "living water," promising that whoever drinks of it "will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10 "John 4:10-14 - Jesus Offers Living Water")). Thus, the "fountain of living waters" that Israel forsook is perfectly embodied in Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, Life")). His sacrifice on the cross provides the ultimate cleansing and spiritual sustenance, making it possible for humanity to return to the life-giving source. The "broken cisterns" of human effort and false gods are utterly exposed by the perfect and complete provision found in Him, for in Christ "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Treasures in Christ")) and "in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" ([Colossians 1:19](/colossians/1-19 "Colossians 1:19 - Fullness of God in Christ")). He is the true and unfailing wellspring of eternal life, grace, and truth, inviting all who thirst to come and drink freely.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 4:14

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:37

¶ In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

Revelation 21:6

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Jeremiah 17:13

O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, [and] they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

Psalms 36:9

For with thee [is] the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Revelation 22:1

¶ And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Isaiah 55:2

Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.