1 Kings 7:31

31 And the mouth of the washing vessel within was in the highness of the head, and that, that appeared withoutforth, was of one cubit, and it was all-round, and had altogether one cubit and an half; and diverse gravings were in the corners of [the] pillars (and diverse engravings were on the corners of the pillars), and the middle pillar between was square, not round.

1 Kings 7:31 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 7:31

And the mouth of it within the chapiter, and above, was a
cubit
On the lid of the base rose up a lesser base, called the chapiter, which was circular, like a coronet, as the word signifies, the inside of which was hollow, for the lower part of the layer to rest in; this ascended straight up half a cubit, and then widening, went up half a cubit more, and so in its whole height, as here a cubit; the circuit or circumference of which is called the mouth of the base, into which the feet of the layer were set, the measure of which is next given:

but the mouth thereof was round, after the work of the base, a cubit
and an half;
which was either the circumference or the diameter of it; one should think the latter:

and also upon the mouth of it were gravings, with their borders,
four square, not round;
though the mouth was round, the border of it was four square, which had figures engraved thereon, perhaps the same as on the other borders, lions, oxen, and cherubim.

1 Kings 7:31 In-Context

29 And between the little crowns and the circles were lions, oxen, and cherubims; and in the jointures in like manner above; and under the lions and the oxen were as reins of bridles of brass hanging down (and under the lions and the oxen were like reins of bridles made of bronze hanging down, or spiral work).

30 And by each foundament were four wheels, and brazen axletrees; and by (the) four parts were as little shoulderings under the washing vessel, the shoulderings, that is, short pillars to sustain the washing vessel, molten, and beholding against themselves together (the short pillars were cast, and they were placed opposite each other).

31 And the mouth of the washing vessel within was in the highness of the head, and that, that appeared withoutforth, was of one cubit, and it was all-round, and had altogether one cubit and an half; and diverse gravings were in the corners of [the] pillars (and diverse engravings were on the corners of the pillars), and the middle pillar between was square, not round.

32 And the four wheels, which were by [the] four corners of the foundament, cleaved together to themselves under the foundament; one wheel had one cubit and an half of height.

33 And the wheels were such, which manner wheels be wont to be made in a chariot; and the axletrees, and the nave-stocks, and the spokes, and [the] felloes/and the dowels of those wheels, all things were molten. (And the wheels were such, as be wont to be made for a chariot; and the axle-rods, and the nave-stocks, and the spokes, and the felloes/and the dowels for those wheels, all of these things were cast.)