# have abandoned the springs of living waters

God speaks of himself as if he were springs of living waters. Alternate translation: "have abandoned me, their springs of living waters" or "have abandoned me, who is like springs of living water" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# have dug out cisterns for themselves

God speaks of false gods as if they were cisterns that people dig in order to get water. Alternate translation: "have gone to false gods, which are like cisterns they have dug for themselves" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# cisterns

deep holes for storing water

