In the Bible, cisterns are often used as metaphors for places that hold water, symbolizing provision and sustenance (e.g., Genesis 37:24). They also represent emptiness or futility when contrasted with the “fountain of living waters,” reflecting the spiritual thirst of people who seek fulfillment in earthly things instead of God (e.g., Jeremiah 2:13).
Scripture
13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
14 Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey?
15 The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.
16 Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.
17 Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the Lord your God, when he led you in the way?
18 And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile?
Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
19 Your evil will chastise you,
and your apostasy will reprove you.
Know and see that it is evil and bitter
for you to forsake the Lord your God;
the fear of me is not in you,
declares the Lord God of hosts.
Cisterns in the Bible: Their Meaning
In the Bible, cisterns can carry deep symbolic resonance, portraying both the provision that God offers and the futility of relying on earthly means for sustenance. Cisterns, as described in passages like Genesis 37:24, serve a practical function, providing water in arid lands and signifying God’s provision. However, the spiritual metaphor surrounding cisterns frequently emphasizes the contrast between temporary sustenance and eternal fulfillment. In Jeremiah 2:13, God laments that His people have forsaken Him, “the fountain of living waters,” and turned instead to “broken cisterns that can hold no water.” This vivid imagery contrasts the life-giving, unending source of God’s love and grace with the emptiness of human attempts to fill the void through materialism or self-sufficiency.
Moreover, the imagery of cisterns illustrates the spiritual longings of humanity, revealing that while people may seek satisfaction in worldly possessions or relationships, these “cisterns” inevitably run dry. The prophet Isaiah further captures this sentiment in Isaiah 55:1, where he invites the thirsty to come to the waters—implying that true quenching of spiritual thirst comes from God alone. The significance of cisterns therefore extends beyond their physicality, representing the choices of faith and the spiritual sustenance that only a living relationship with God can provide, inviting believers to reject the allure of ephemeral comforts in favor of the eternal well-being found in divine connection.
Continuing on the theme of cisterns, their representation transcends mere physical structures, embodying themes of transition and transformation within the context of faith. In the Old Testament, Noah’s flood is often interpreted not only as a story of divine judgment but also as a narrative core that serves to remind readers of God’s control over water—sometimes a life-giving force, sometimes a means of destruction. Cisterns in this setting can symbolize the false security people place in their own measures while recognizing the providential hand of God that alone can nourish and sustain life. The fragility of human constructs compared to the steadfastness of God’s promises invites believers to anchor their trust in divine providence rather than in the unreliable comforts of this world.
In the New Testament, the theme of water is further enriched, where Jesus offers Himself as the living water to the Samaritan woman at the well. This scene encapsulates the essence of cisterns—reflecting the emptiness of her previous efforts to find fulfillment through relationships that left her unfulfilled. Jesus’ declaration offers not just a contrast to cisterns but an invitation to partake in the never-ending source of spiritual nourishment. Thus, cisterns become emblematic of humanity’s journey from relying on broken fountains towards experiencing the fullness found in God through Christ—a journey that reveals the depths of grace and love offered by a God who desires to quench our deepest thirsts.
Symbol of Spiritual Thirst
Cisterns in the Bible often represent the human condition of spiritual thirst and the search for fulfillment. Just as a cistern collects and holds water, people seek to fill their lives with various sources of satisfaction. However, these sources may be inadequate or temporary, leading to a deeper longing for true spiritual nourishment. This metaphor highlights the importance of seeking a relationship with God, who offers living water that quenches the soul’s thirst.
Representation of Abandonment and Neglect
Cisterns can also symbolize abandonment and neglect, particularly when they are dry or broken. In biblical contexts, a cistern that cannot hold water reflects a failure to provide for one’s needs. This imagery serves as a warning against relying on worldly pursuits or false idols that ultimately leave one empty. It emphasizes the need for vigilance in maintaining one’s spiritual life and the dangers of turning away from God, who is the ultimate source of sustenance.
Metaphor for Judgment and Consequences
Additionally, cisterns can serve as a metaphor for judgment and the consequences of turning away from divine guidance. In biblical narratives, the act of digging or maintaining a cistern can represent the effort put into creating a life apart from God. When these efforts fail, it illustrates the futility of seeking security and satisfaction outside of divine provision. This theme underscores the importance of aligning one’s life with God’s will to avoid the pitfalls of spiritual desolation.
How to Seek Fulfillment Through Faith and Purpose
Seeking fulfillment through faith and purpose is a deeply personal journey that invites us to explore our relationship with God and our unique calling in life. Start by immersing yourself in prayer and scripture, allowing the Word to guide your thoughts and actions. Reflect on your passions and the gifts you’ve been blessed with—these are often clues to your purpose. Surround yourself with a community of believers who can encourage and challenge you, as fellowship can illuminate paths you might not see alone. Remember, fulfillment isn’t found in worldly achievements but in serving others and living out your faith authentically. As you align your daily actions with God’s will, you’ll discover a profound sense of peace and joy that comes from knowing you are part of something greater than yourself. Embrace this journey with an open heart, and trust that God will lead you to a fulfilling life rooted in His love and purpose.
Bible References to Cisterns and Meaning:
Proverbs 5:15-20: 15 Drink water from your own cistern,
flowing water from your own well.
16 Should your springs be scattered abroad,
streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?
2 Kings 18:31-32: 31 Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern,
32 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, that you may live, and not die. And do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.”
Isaiah 36:16-17: 16 Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern,
17 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.
Jeremiah 38:6-13: 6 So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.
7 But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. The king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate,
8 Ebed-melech went out from the king’s house and said to the king,
9 “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.”
10 Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, “Take thirty men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”
11 So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the house of the king, to a wardrobe in the storehouse, and took from there old rags and worn-out clothes, which he let down to Jeremiah in the cistern by ropes.
12 Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Put the rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.” Jeremiah did so.
13 So they drew Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
Zechariah 9:11-12: 11 As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.
Genesis 37:23-28: 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore.
24 Then they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt.
26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?
27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh. And his brothers listened to him.
28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
Jeremiah 14:1-6: 1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:
2 “Judah mourns, and her gates languish; her people lament on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.”
3 Their nobles send their servants for water;
they come to the cisterns;
they find no water;
they return with their vessels empty;
they are ashamed and confounded
and cover their heads.
4 Because of the ground that is dismayed, since there is no rain on the land, the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.
5 Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn because there is no grass.
6 The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail because there is no vegetation.
2 Chronicles 26:10: 10 And he built towers in the wilderness and cut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.
Nehemiah 9:25-26: 25 And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
26 “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies.”
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.