Jeremiah 2:13

Translations

Modern

“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.

Traditional

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.

Literal

For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that hold no water.

Latin

Duo enim mala fecit populus meus: me dereliquerunt fontem aquæ vivæ, et foderunt sibi cisternas, cisternas dissipatas, quia continere non valent aquas.

Original

Hebrew

English

“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.

Notes

Jeremiah 2:13

The Israelites made two unwise choices:
1. They left the Lord, their true source of life
2. Thet started worshipping false gods that could not help them
A fountain of living (running) water that flows all year, even during droughts, is a rare treasure (Psalm 36:9; John 4:14).
The cisterns the Israelites built after entering Canaan were holes in the ground lined with plaster. These simple tanks collected rainwater from roofs during wet weather and provided water during dry summers. The water could become stale and unsafe to drink, and the plaster often cracked, causing the water to leak out.

Jeremiah 2:1–13

Jeremiah used marriage, infidelity, and divorce as images to show Judah's spiritual betrayal.

Theme notes and profiles

Basic Laws God’s New Covenant Living Water The Broken Covenant

Events

Prophecies of Jeremiahc. 628 BC

Related verses

John 4:14
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.”
John 7:37
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
Jeremiah 17:13
O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who abandon You will be put to shame. All who turn away will be written in the dust, for they have abandoned the LORD, the fountain of living water.
Revelation 21:6
And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.
Psalm 36:9
For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.
Revelation 22:1
Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Revelation 22:17
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.
Isaiah 55:2
Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.
Jeremiah 4:22
“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”
Psalm 81:11–13
But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.
Jeremiah 2:17
Have you not brought this on yourself by forsaking the LORD your God when He led you in the way?
Jeremiah 2:11
Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Courts and Trials Jeremiah (Person) Judah, Tribe of Priests and Levites Sexual Immorality

Topics

Backsliders: Backsliding of Israel Church: Backslidden Cistern: Broken Confidence: False Forsaking God: Leads Men to Follow Their own Devices Forsaking God: Wickedness of Fountain of Divine Grace Fountains and Springs of God Idolatry: A Virtual Forsaking of God Ingratitude to God: Guilt of Living Water Self-Righteousness: General Scriptures Concerning The Jews: National Character of Prone to Backsliding Well of Water

Jeremiah 2:13

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Events

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