גֶּ֫בֶא

# Geva (H1360): The Hebrew Cistern The Hebrew word *geva* (גֶּ֫בֶא) denotes a cistern—a structure designed to collect and store water. Based on its limited biblical attestation, this term represents a specific technological solution to water management in the ancient Near East, where reliable water sources were essential to survival and settlement. With only two occurrences in the biblical text, *geva* appears to have been a specialized term rather than a common everyday word. This rarity suggests it may have referred to a particular type of water storage system or was used in specific contexts. The limited usage makes it difficult to determine whether the term carried metaphorical significance or remained strictly functional in biblical discourse, though cisterns themselves were crucial infrastructure in ancient Judean and Israeli settlements. The presence of this word in Hebrew scripture reflects the practical concerns of ancient Levantine communities dependent on seasonal rainfall and underground water sources. Such storage facilities enabled settlements to survive dry seasons and periods of insufficient precipitation, making cisterns fundamental to agricultural and domestic life in the region.