In recording a pronouncement of God, the prophet Jeremiah referred to cisterns in a figurative sense, saying: “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, King James Version.
Pannes kirja Jumala teadaande, viitas prohvet Jeremija piltlikult nendele veehoidlatele, öeldes: „Mu rahvas on teinud kahekordse süüteo: mind, elava vee allika, nad jätsid maha, et raiuda enestele kaevusid, pragulisi kaevusid, mis ei pea vett! ”.