Perennial springs of good water were of inestimable value in Palestine, and numerous places took their name from some fountain in their vicinity. They have furnished to the sacred writers some of their finest illustrations of spiritual things. Thus, God is the "Fountain of living waters," Jer 2:13. The atonement is a precious fountain of cleansing, healing, life-giving power, Joe 3:18; Zec 13:1. The consolations of the gospel and the felicity of heaven are also described by this similitude, Ps 36:7-9; Re 7:17. See WELLS.