A hard-rinded inedible fruit used both as utensils (dippers, cups, storage vessels) and for ornamentation. Gourd motifs decorated the Temple interior (
1Kgs 6:18) and the bronze sea in the Temple (
1Kgs 7:24;
2Chr 4:3). A “wild gourd” (only in
2Kgs 4:39) had poisonous fruit.
1Kgs 6:18
18The cedar within the house had carvings of gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, no stone was seen.
1Kgs 7:24
24Under its brim were panels all around it, each of ten cubits, surrounding the sea; there were two rows of panels, cast when it was cast.
2Chr 4:3
3Under it were panels all around, each of ten cubits, surrounding the sea; there were two rows of panels, cast when it was cast.
2Kgs 4:39
39One of them went out into the field to gather herbs; he found a wild vine and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot ... View more
