Charles Ellicott Commentary Jeremiah 6:7

"As a well casteth forth its waters, so she casteth forth her wickedness: violence and destruction is heard in her; before me continually is sickness and wounds." — Jeremiah 6:7 (ASV)

As a fountain casteth out her waters. —The English is plain enough, but the Hebrew presents two difficulties:

1. The word rendered “fountain” (better, cistern) is not spelt with the usual vowels, and the etymology of the verb is quite uncertain. It has been rendered, As a cistern “gathers” or “keeps in,” or “keeps its waters cool,” or “lets them flow.”

The general meaning is probably given by the Authorised Version. Jerusalem was literally “overflowing” with wickedness.

Grief. —Better, sickness. The word and the imagery are the same as in Isaiah 1:5.