### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mabbûwaʻ**, represented by `{{H4002}}`, refers to a **fountain** or **spring**. It is derived from a word meaning to gush forth. Appearing only **3 times** across **3 unique verses**, its usage, though rare, carries significant weight, often symbolizing a source of life and divine provision.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical contexts, `{{H4002}}` is used both literally and metaphorically to depict a source of life-giving water. In Ecclesiastes, it is part of an allegory for the frailty of life, where a "pitcher be broken at the **fountain**" signifies the end of vitality [[Ecclesiastes 12:6]]. Prophetically, Isaiah uses the term to illustrate God's mercy and restorative power. God promises to guide his people "by the **springs** of water" so they will not thirst [[Isaiah 49:10]], and he declares that "the thirsty land" will become "**springs** of water" [[Isaiah 35:7]], symbolizing a miraculous transformation from desolation to abundance.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller picture of the environment and function of a **fountain**:
* `{{H6774}}` **tsimmâʼôwn** (thirsty land): This term describes "a thirsty place, i.e. desert." It establishes the barren context which is dramatically transformed by the emergence of **springs** of water [[Isaiah 35:7]].
* `{{H4325}}` **mayim** (water): As the substance that flows from a spring, **water** is intrinsically linked to `{{H4002}}`. The promise is not just of a spring, but of "**springs** of **water**," emphasizing the fulfillment of a vital need [[Isaiah 49:10]].
* `{{H953}}` **bôwr** (cistern): This word for a "pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)" is used in parallel with **fountain** in [[Ecclesiastes 12:6]]. It provides a contrast between a man-made reservoir for storing water and a natural, gushing spring.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4002}}` is centered on God as the ultimate source of life and restoration.
* **Divine Provision:** In Isaiah, **springs** are a direct result of God's merciful intervention. He leads his people to them to relieve their thirst [[Isaiah 49:10]] and causes them to appear in the desert, demonstrating his power to provide supernaturally.
* **Miraculous Restoration:** The transformation of a **thirsty land** `{{H6774}}` into **springs** `{{H4002}}` serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual renewal and the reversal of desolation, turning a place of death into one of life [[Isaiah 35:7]].
* **Source of Life's Vitality:** Ecclesiastes employs the **fountain** as a symbol for the very source of human life. The image of the broken pitcher at the fountain represents the cessation of life, highlighting the dependence on a continuous, external source for existence [[Ecclesiastes 12:6]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4002}}` is a potent and focused term. While its base meaning is a simple **fountain** or **spring**, its few appearances in Scripture elevate it to a symbol of divine grace. It represents God's power to provide, restore, and sustain, transforming barrenness into abundance and serving as a metaphor for the very wellspring of life itself.
TRV