📖 Biblical Definition
A fountain is a natural spring of water issuing from the earth — and in Scripture it becomes the figure of God Himself as the inexhaustible source of life, and of Christ’s shed blood as the fountain opened for cleansing. "For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9). Jeremiah’s great covenant indictment turns on the image: "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). Zechariah prophesies the gospel fountain: "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David... for sin and for uncleanness" (Zechariah 13:1). William Cowper’s hymn captures it: "There is a fountain filled with blood."
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
FOUN'TAIN, n.
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1. A spring, or source of water; properly, a spring or issuing of water from the earth. 2. A small basin of springing or flowing water. 3. An artificial spout of water. 4. First principle or original cause; that from which any thing proceeds; as, truth has its fountain in God.
📖 Key Scripture
Jeremiah 2:13 — "They have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."
Zechariah 13:1 — "In that day there shall be a fountain opened... for sin and for uncleanness."
John 4:14 — "The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
Revelation 21:6 — "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern culture hews cisterns all day and wonders why it cannot stop drinking.
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Jeremiah 2:13 is the most precise diagnosis of the modern soul ever written: two evils — forsaking God the fountain, and hewing broken cisterns. Social media, pornography, consumerism, political tribalism — every one a cistern, every one cracked, every one leaking. The thirst returns; the cistern fails; the hand hews another.
Christ at the well of Sychar offered the Samaritan woman what none of her five husbands ever gave her: an inward fountain. The offer stands. Every cistern must one day be abandoned — the question is whether you abandon it in time to drink of the Fountain, or too late.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew maqor (H4726); Greek pege (G4077).
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H4599 — mayan — fountain, spring of water
H4726 — maqor — fountain, source; used of life, wisdom, blood
G4077 — pege — fountain, spring, well; John 4:14, Rev 21:6
Usage
"The two evils are still the same: leaving the Fountain, and trusting the cistern."
"Every addiction is a cracked cistern pretending to be a fountain."
"Drink deep of Christ — it is the one well that never runs dry."