Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Jeremiah 2:13. It’s a really powerful and sobering passage about Israel's behavior. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: Jeremiah is writing to the Israelites after they had been making a terrible mistake – they were neglecting God and focusing on their own desires instead of following His instructions. Let’s unpack the parts: “For my people have committed two evils…” This tells us Jeremiah is referring to Israel as a whole. He's pointing out a significant problem with them. “…they have forsaken me…” This means they stopped listening to God and weren’t following His guidance. They were prioritizing their own wants and needs over what was important – God's will. “[and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns…” This is the really harsh part. “Hewed” means to break something with a tool. Jeremiah describes it as "broken cisterns." This suggests they were building or creating places (like wells or storage) that couldn't hold water – they were wasting resources and creating problems. “…that can hold no water.” This is the key takeaway. Their actions created a situation where their efforts were futile, like trying to fill a dry well with water. They weren’t building anything useful; it was all wasted effort and potential. What does this verse mean in a big picture sense? It's about neglecting God: The verse highlights that Israel wasn't truly worshiping or obeying God. They were focused on their own ways, rather than seeking Him. It’s about selfishness & lack of priorities: It speaks to a deeper issue – a shift away from God and focusing on earthly things instead. It’s a warning about consequences: Jeremiah is telling us that this kind of behavior will have negative results for Israel. It's suggesting that their actions will lead to hardship, trouble, and ultimately, destruction. In short, the verse warns against prioritizing personal desires over God's guidance and creating things that are useless. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in a different way? Provide context about why this passage is important in the Bible?