### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **bôʼr**, represented by `{{H877}}`, is a noun for a **cistern**. Derived from a root meaning to dig or bore, it appears 2 times in the Bible, both within a single, powerful verse. Its significance lies not in its frequency but in its potent use as a spiritual metaphor.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole context for `{{H877}}` is [[Jeremiah 2:13]], where God describes the two evils His people have committed. They have forsaken Him, the "fountain of living waters," and have instead "hewed them out **cisterns**." The verse immediately repeats the word to emphasize their state: "broken **cisterns**, that can hold no water." This sets up a stark contrast between the divine, ever-flowing source of life and the broken, failing, man-made containers meant to replace it.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in [[Jeremiah 2:13]] illuminate the meaning of **bôʼr**:
* `{{H2672}}` **châtsab** (to hew, cut, dig): This root word describes the act of creating the cisterns, emphasizing that they are products of human effort and labor, carved out rather than naturally occurring.
* `{{H7665}}` **shâbar** (to break, crush, destroy): This describes the flawed condition of the man-made cisterns. They are inherently broken and unreliable from the start.
* `{{H3557}}` **kûwl** (to contain, hold, sustain): This verb highlights the ultimate failure of the cisterns; they are unable to perform their primary function of holding water, rendering the people's efforts useless.
* `{{H4726}}` **mâqôwr** (fountain, spring, source): This word is used for the divine alternative that was forsaken. It represents a living, natural, and endless source, in direct opposition to the static and broken cistern.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H877}}` is concentrated in its metaphorical application in Jeremiah:
* **Symbol of Self-Reliance:** The act of hewing a cistern `{{H877}}` represents the human attempt to create one's own source of spiritual sustenance and security apart from God.
* **Illustration of spiritual failure:** The cisterns are described as "broken" `{{H7665}}` and unable to "hold" `{{H3557}}` water, symbolizing that any system, idol, or effort aside from God is ultimately flawed and cannot provide true life or satisfaction.
* **A Warning Against Idolatry:** By forsaking the "fountain" `{{H4726}}` for the cistern `{{H877}}`, the people `{{H5971}}` are choosing a dead, empty object over the living God, which is the very essence of idolatry.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H877}}` **bôʼr** is a term whose significance far outweighs its limited usage. While literally meaning a cistern, it functions in Scripture as a powerful symbol of futile human works and flawed spiritual alternatives. Through its appearance in [[Jeremiah 2:13]], it serves as an enduring illustration of the choice between relying on finite, broken, man-made systems and turning to God as the one true and inexhaustible fountain of life.
TRV