Jeremiah 2:13

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.

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}.

"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!

“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.

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.

Jeremiah 2:13 (KJV) Commentary

Verse Text:

"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."

This powerful verse from the prophet Jeremiah describes God's indictment against the people of Israel (referred to here as "my people"). It highlights their fundamental spiritual failure using a vivid and relatable metaphor rooted in the essential need for water in the ancient Near East.

  • Historical and Cultural Context: In ancient Israel, fresh, flowing water ("living waters") from springs or rivers was highly prized, representing life, purity, and sustenance. Cisterns, on the other hand, were man-made reservoirs carved into rock to collect rainwater. While necessary, they depended on rain, could become stagnant, and were prone to cracking and leaking. The contrast between a natural, constant spring and a potentially faulty, man-made cistern is central to the verse's meaning.
  • Key Themes and Messages:
    • The Two Evils: God identifies two specific sins:
      1. Forsaking Him: This is the primary evil – abandoning the source of true life and blessing.
      2. Seeking Alternatives: Relying on human efforts, idols, or other unreliable sources for fulfillment, security, or salvation.
    • God as the Source: God presents Himself as the "fountain of living waters," the sole, abundant, and life-giving source of spiritual nourishment and satisfaction.
    • Human Futility: The "broken cisterns" represent the emptiness and ultimate failure of anything humans create or rely on apart from God. They are incapable of holding what is truly needed.
  • Linguistic Insights: The Hebrew word for "fountain" (`ma'yan`) implies a spring or well of flowing water, emphasizing natural, continuous supply. "Living waters" (`mayim hayim`) is a common biblical term for flowing water, often symbolizing life and divine blessing. The contrast with "cisterns" (`borot`), man-made pits, underscores the difference between divine provision and human endeavor.
  • Cross-References: The imagery of God as the source of life-giving water is echoed throughout scripture. See John 4:10-14 where Jesus speaks of Himself giving "living water" that wells up to eternal life, or Isaiah 55:1-2 which invites the thirsty to come to the waters provided freely by God, contrasting it with spending money on what does not satisfy.
  • Practical Application: This verse challenges us to examine where we seek fulfillment and security. Are we relying on God, the unfailing source of life, grace, and truth? Or are we trying to "hew out" our own solutions – seeking satisfaction in possessions, relationships, achievements, or fleeting pleasures – which are ultimately like broken cisterns that cannot hold the water we truly need?
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

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