A noun denoting a cistern or well for water storage, critical infrastructure in ancient Palestine's semi-arid climate. The term appears in Jeremiah's image of Israel as a cracked cistern that cannot hold water. Related to the common beer (well), this term may be an Aramaic form or variant. Cisterns were hewn from rock to collect and store rainwater, essential for survival during dry months. The metaphorical use emphasizes Israel's failure to retain God's blessings.