Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 7:31
And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above [was] a cubit: but the mouth thereof [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.
31. And the mouth of it ] Here the pronoun must, I think, be referred, as in ‘corners (feet) thereof’ of 1Ki 7:30, to the base. The bases appear to have had a circular orifice in the top, which is here called the mouth. This opening was, as it seems, surmounted and surrounded by a capital, which itself had an opening to receive the lowest part of the laver. The height of the capital above the level surface of the top of the base appears not to be specified unless the half cubit of 1Ki 7:35 be taken to refer to the capital. One cubit was the diameter of the orifice in the top of the base.
but the mouth thereof ] Better, ‘And’ &c. The pronoun here by a difference of gender in the original is shewn to refer to a different noun. This can only be the ‘chapiter.’ That superstructure widened out towards the top, and the round opening in top of it, to receive the bottom of the laver, is what is meant by the second ‘mouth.’
after the work of the base ] Better, as the word is the same which was so rendered in 1Ki 7:29, after the work of a pedestal. It was in this way that the chapiter served as a support to the laver. This chapiter had graved work all round about its upper edge, which may be fitly called ‘mouth’ as it was meant to receive the laver.
with their borders, foursquare, not round ] Better, And their borders were foursquare, not round. It is better to render as literally as possible for it is very doubtful whether these words have reference at all to the chapiter. They seem to be a recurrence to the description of those borders (or panels) spoken of in 1Ki 7:28-29. In that case the pronoun ‘their’ in this clause would refer to the bases. This is the more probable because the ‘borders’ of the next verse are certainly those panels on the sides of the bases.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
It seems impossible to determine what is meant by the mouth of the laver, or what by its chapiter.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The mouth of it; so he calls that part in the top of the base which was left hollow, that the foot of the laver might be let into it, and fastened in it.
Within the chapiter, i.e. within the little base, which he calls the chapiter, because it rose up from and stood above the great base, as the head doth above the rest of the body.
And above; above the chapiter; for the mouth went up and grew wider, like a funnel.
Was a cubit; either in breadth; or rather in height, 1Ki 7:35; whereof half a cubit was above the chapiter or little base, as is said, 1Ki 7:35, and the other half is here implied to be within it, and below it.
A cubit and a half, to wit, in compass.
Four-square, not round; so the innermost part, called the mouth, was round, but the outward part was square, as when a circle is made within a quadrangle.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(31) And the mouth.This is most obscure, and in our version unintelligible. Keil renders it: And the mouth of it (the laver) was within the chapiter, and in a cubit above it; and the mouth of it (the chapiter) was round, after the manner of pedestal, a cubit and a half; and upon the mouth was carved work, and the panels of it (the mouth) were square, not round. But the rendering of the word mouth, now for the laver, now for the chapiter, is arbitrary, and the whole is still obscure. As the circular stand (or chapiter) was half a cubit deep, it looks as if the lower surface of the laver was a cubit above the mouth. If the laver were emptied by a cock near the bottom, this circular stand may have received the drippings. And as the top of this base would be square on plan, and the stand circular, there would be, of course, spaces left at each corner, which may possibly be the engraved panels referred to.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
31. The mouth of it The mouth of the laver; its opening at the top; involving in this case, also, the entire cavity or hollow of the laver.
Within the chapiter and above An obscure and unintelligible expression, meaning, perhaps, the depth of the laver.
A cubit Literally, in a cubit; perhaps an erroneous copying of , about a cubit. We take the meaning to be, that the depth of the laver was about one cubit.
The mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a cubit and a half This makes no sense at all, and if we follow the common punctuation, the passage is perfectly unintelligible. It is very likely that some words have here fallen out of the text. As it is, it seems best to punctuate and read as follows: And the mouth was round; the base-work was a cubit and a half; and also upon the mouth were engravings, and their panels were square, not rounded. On this rendering we make the following notes: Mouth was round That is, the opening was round at the top, like a bowl. Base-work was a cubit and a half The base-work that connected immediately with the laver, and separated it a cubit and a half from the round compass (1Ki 7:35) of the base above. 1Ki 7:29. This base work probably consisted of a pedestal and open standards in the form of curved plates, as represented in the figure. (n n.) See on 1Ki 7:35. Upon the mouth were engravings That is, upon the concave surface of the inside of the laver, and probably also on the outside. Their panels The panels of the engravings. (P P in figure.) The lavers were so cast as to present the appearance of square panels set in the surface, and these panels were covered with sculptured work.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 7:31 And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above [was] a cubit: but the mouth thereof [was] round [after] the work of the base, a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it [were] gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.
Ver. 31. And the mouth of it within the chapiter. ] The round hollow place of the base, into which the lower part of the laver was put to the upper, was a cubit.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
borders = panels. Removed by Ahaz (2Ki 16:17). Replaced by Hezekiah (2Ch 29:19). Existed at taking of Temple (Jer 52:17, Jer 52:20).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Ki 7:31. The mouth of it So he calls that part in the top of the base which was left hollow, that the foot of the laver might be let into it. Within the chapiter Within the little base, which he calls the chapiter, because it rose up from, and stood above the great base. And above Above the chapiter; for the mouth went up and grew wider like a funnel. Was a cubit In height, (1Ki 7:35,) whereof half a cubit was above the chapiter or little base, and the other half below it. A cubit and half In compass. Four-square So the innermost part, called the mouth, was round, but the outward part was square, as when a circle is made within a quadrangle.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7:31 And the {q} mouth of it within the chapiter and above [was] a cubit: but the mouth thereof [was] round [after] the work of the base, a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it [were] gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.
(q) The mouth of the great base or frame entered into the chapiter, or pillar that bore up the cauldron.