גֶּ֫בֶא (ge.ve)
ge.ve
cistern
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun geve refers to a man-made cistern or a natural pool, often serving as a vital water source in arid landscapes. In biblical times, securing reliable water was essential for survival, making these structures central to daily life and community stability. The term can denote both the constructed reservoirs used for storing rainwater and the marshy pools found in certain regions.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 15:7, where it describes the Moabites’ loss of their treasures and joyous songs due to the invasion of Assyria. The context highlights how the destruction of such essential resources symbolizes total devastation and despair. By focusing on this single occurrence, we see how geve represents not just a physical object but a marker of security and prosperity that can be abruptly lost.
The rarity of geve underscores its significance in Isaiah’s prophecy. Its mention serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of human achievements when faced with divine judgment. Through this lens, the cistern becomes a powerful symbol of what is at stake in times of crisis and the enduring hope for restoration that follows.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In Isaiah’s prophecy against Moab, the word geve points to a cistern, a vital reservoir for storing rainwater in dry lands. This single occurrence reminds us how deeply our security depends on resources that can vanish overnight. When such essential structures are destroyed, it signals not just material loss but a profound shift in stability and hope.
Yet even in this stark imagery, there is a quiet invitation to look beyond temporary safeguards. The cistern stands as a symbol of human effort and preparation, yet its fragility invites trust in something more enduring. For believers today, it encourages reflection on where we place our confidence—whether in the reliability of our own plans or in the steadfast care that sustains us through every season.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ a cistern1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/גֶּֽבֶא\׃\ \פ1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 30:14
He will break it as a potter’s vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing, so that there won’t be found among the broken pieces a piece good enough to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.”
This verse uses the cistern as a metaphor for shattered security, illustrating how quickly human preparations can be rendered useless without divine preservation.