Bible Dictionary
Cistern
A cistern was a reservoir, usually cut into rock, for storing rainwater or water brought from a spring. Empty cisterns could also be used as prisons or places of confinement.
Biblical Usage
Cisterns are frequently mentioned in Scripture because water had to be collected and preserved. Empty cisterns were sometimes used as prisons or places of confinement, including the pits into which Joseph and Jeremiah were cast.
Scripture References