Gate

Gate (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 (1Kings 6:34, 35; 2Kings 18:16); of the holy place (1Kings 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 (1Kings 19:13).

(7.) Camps (Ex 32:26, 27; Heb 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 (1Kings 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" (R.V., "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.