Where Jude 1:12 refers to clouds without rain, Peter changes the analogy to springs without water. In an arid environment, a spring without water was a very undesirable phenomenon. A spring promised relief for thirst but upon closer inspection this promise is empty. With this picture Peter is highlighting the false teachers’ unproductive and empty promises.1
Regarding mists, Peter’s meaning is not so clear. Mist is the residue of condensation in the air—perhaps also a promise of rain that does not come to fruition. If this is the case, then the metaphor parallels neatly with that of springs without water.
The false teachers are incapable of producing anything of value with their teaching, despite grand promises.2 Alternatively, mists could also refer to the transitory nature of human life and coming judgment (Joel 2:2; Zephaniah 1:15). In this case it parallels with the idea of blackest darkness,
referring to the spiritual deadness of the false teachers and how that means they are destined for doom.3
Water is needed to sustain human life. Faithful Bible teaching is needed to sustain spiritual life (see Proverbs 13:14; Proverbs 18:4).4 The false teachers, however, provide no such teaching to their followers,5 they give broken cisterns instead of truth (see also Jeremiah 2:13).6
17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.