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 Joshua 2:5, Joshua 2:7; Judges 5:8; 1 Samuel 23:7; 2 Chronicles 8:5, 2 Chronicles 14:7; Psalm 107:16, Psalm 147:13; Isaiah 22:7, Isaiah 45:1–2; Jeremiah 51:30, Jeremiah 51:58; 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; Revelation 21:25, Revelation 22:14

All these cities were fortified with high walls and gates and bars, and there were many more unwalled villages.

Examples of gates

The gates of Jerusalem

Nehemiah 2:13–15 See also 2 Kings 14:13 parallel 2 Chronicles 25:23; Nehemiah 1:3, Nehemiah 2:3, Nehemiah 2:8NEH Nehemiah 3:1, Nehemiah 3:32; John 5:2 Nehemiah 3:3, Nehemiah 3:6, Nehemiah 3:13–15 the Valley Gate, Dung Gate and Fountain Gate; Nehemiah 3:26 the Water Gate; Nehemiah 3:28–29, Nehemiah 3:31, Nehemiah 6:1, Nehemiah 7:3, Nehemiah 11:19, Nehemiah 12:39; Psalm 122:2; Isaiah 60:11; Jeremiah 1:15

So I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Well of the Serpent and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates that had been destroyed by fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to get through; so I went up the valley by night and inspected the wall. Then I headed back and reentered through the Valley Gate.

The gates of the temple

And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts.

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

At that time Joshua invoked this solemn oath: “Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho; at the cost of his firstborn he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.”

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

Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites — each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites — for the burnt offerings and peace offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for singing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling.

A place of business

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

Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth. So in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham, “No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”

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, Esther 2:21, Esther 3:2–3

The young man, who was the most respected of all his father’s household, did not hesitate to fulfill this request, because he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter. So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city and addressed the men of their city:

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

you must bring out to your gates the man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you must stone that person to death.

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

I said, “In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.”

The entrance to the Christian life

Matthew 7:13–14 See also John 10:7–10

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The entry to the heavenly city of God

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

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.