Eastons Bible Dictionary

Return to Easton's Main Index
Previous topic (Garrison)

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 (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; 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 (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" (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.

Next Topic (Gath)

 

 

HTML Bible Software © 2000 by johnhurt.com