Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5323 gate

A point of entry to a walled city or walled-off area, such as the temple. It was a place where business was transacted and where justice and punishment were dispensed. It is used figuratively of the entry to death and also of the starting-point of the Christian life.

The purpose of gates as defended points of entry

Deuteronomy 3:5

The gates of Jericho:

Joshua 2:5,7 Judges 5:8; 1 Samuel 23:7; 2 Chronicles 8:5; 2 C 7; Psalm 107:16; Psalm 147:13; Isaiah 22:7; Isaiah 45:1-2

The destruction of Babylon's gates foretold:

Jeremiah 51:30,58 Ezekiel 38:11; Ezekiel 46:9; Hosea 11:6; Luke 7:12 Jesus Christ approaches Nain; Acts 9:24; Acts 12:10; Acts 16:13

The new Jerusalem:

Revelation 21:25; Revelation 22:14

Examples of gates

The gates of Jerusalem

Nehemiah 2:13-15 See also 2 Kings 14:13 pp 2 Chronicles 25:23; Nehemiah 1:3; Nehemiah 2:3,8

The Sheep Gate:

Nehemiah 3:1,32; John 5:2 Nehemiah 3:3,6,13-15 the Valley Gate, Dung Gate and Fountain Gate; Nehemiah 3:26 the Water Gate; Nehemiah 3:28-29,31; Nehemiah 6:1; Nehemiah 7:3; Nehemiah 11:19; Nehemiah 12:39; Psalm 122:2; Isaiah 60:11; Jeremiah 1:15

The gates of the temple

Acts 3:2 See also 2 Chronicles 23:19; 2 C 8; 2 C 2; Jeremiah 20:2; Ezekiel 44:11; Acts 3:10

Other examples of gates

Joshua 6:26 See also Genesis 28:17; 1 Samuel 17:52; 1 Kings 16:34; Matthew 16:18; John 10:1-3; Acts 10:17

Uses of the area around the gate

A place of (sometimes false) worship

2 Chronicles 31:2 See also 2 Kings 23:8; Psalm 9:14; Psalm 118:19-20; Ezekiel 46:2; Acts 14:13

A place of business

Genesis 23:10-11 See also Ruth 4:1,11; 2 Kings 7:1,18; Nehemiah 13:19-22

A place where decisions are made and justice dispensed

Genesis 34:19-20 See also Deuteronomy 21:19; Deuteronomy 22:13-19; Deuteronomy 25:7-10; Joshua 20:4; 2 Samuel 15:2; 1 Kings 22:10; Esther 2:19,21; Esther 3:2-3

A place of punishment, banishment and begging

Deuteronomy 17:5 See also Deuteronomy 22:23-24; Joshua 8:29; 2 Kings 7:3; Jeremiah 20:2; Ezekiel 21:15; Luke 16:20; Hebrews 13:12; Revelation 22:14-15

A place of counsel

Proverbs 1:20-21; Proverbs 8:1-3

Figurative use of the gate

Coming to worship

Psalm 24:7-10; Psalm 100:4

The entrance to death

Isaiah 38:10 See also Job 17:16; Job 38:17; Psalm 9:13; Psalm 107:18

The entrance to the Christian life

Matthew 7:13-14 See also John 10:7-10

The entry to the heavenly city of God

Revelation 22:14 See also Ezekiel 48:30-34; Revelation 21:12-15,21,25

See also

2377  kingdom of God, entry into
4841  narrowness
5256  city
5299  door
5315  fortifications
5316  fortress
5324  gatekeepers