ChristianAnswers.Net WebBible Encyclopedia

Gate

Seven different types of gates are mentioned in the Bible…

  1. Of cities, as of Jerusalem (Jer. 37:13; Neh. 1:3; 2:3; 3:3), of Sodom (Gen. 19:1), of Gaza (Judg. 16:3).

  2. Of royal palaces (Neh. 2:8).

  3. Of the temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6:34, 35; 2 Kings 18:16); of the holy place (1 Kings 6:31, 32; Ezek. 41:23, 24); of the outer courts of the temple, the beautiful gate (Acts 3:2).

  4. Tombs (Matt. 27:60).

  5. Prisons (Acts 12:10; 16:27).

  6. Caverns (1 Kings 19:13).

  7. Camps (Ex. 32:26, 27; Hebrews 13:12).

The materials of which gates were made were…

  1. Iron and brass (Ps. 107:16; Isa. 45:2; Acts 12:10).

  2. Stones and pearls (Isa. 54:12; Rev. 21:21).

  3. Wood (Judg. 16:3) probably.

At the gates of cities courts of justice were frequently held, and hence “judges of the gate” are spoken of (Deut. 16:18; 17:8; 21:19; 25:6, 7, etc.). At the gates prophets also frequently delivered their messages (Prov. 1:21; 8:3; Isa. 29:21; Jer. 17:19, 20; 26:10). Criminals were punished without the gates (1 Kings 21:13; Acts 7:59).

By the “gates of righteousness” we are probably to understand those of the temple (Ps. 118:19).

“The gates of hell” (Revised Version, “gates of Hades”) Matt. 16:18, are generally interpreted as meaning the power of Satan, but probably they may mean the power of death, denoting that the Church of Christ shall never die.

Biblical Gates

ALSO SEE: