1 Kings 7:31

31 And the mouth of it within the capital and above [was] a cubit: but the mouth of it [was] round [after] the work of the base, a cubit and a half: and also upon the mouth of it [were] gravings with their borders, foursquare, 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 on the borders that [were] between the ledges [were] lions, oxen, and cherubim: and upon the ledges [there was] a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen [were] certain additions made of thin work.

30 And every base had four brazen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners of it had undersetters: under the laver [were] undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.

31 And the mouth of it within the capital and above [was] a cubit: but the mouth of it [was] round [after] the work of the base, a cubit and a half: and also upon the mouth of it [were] gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.

32 And under the borders [were] four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels [were joined] to the base: and the hight of a wheel [was] a cubit and half a cubit.

33 And the work of the wheels [was] like the work of a chariot wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their fellies, and their spokes, [were] all molten.