What does the Bible say about gates?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible presents gates as places of access, protection, judgment, welcome, and God’s sovereign power to open what no human strength can secure. Isaiah 62:10 calls God’s people to prepare the way for others, while Psalm 107:16 praises him for breaking gates of bronze and cutting bars of iron, delivering prisoners from bondage. Isaiah 45:1-2 shows the Lord opening gates before Cyrus to accomplish his saving purposes. In Acts 12:10, God miraculously opens the prison gate for Peter. Yet gates also expose human need: Lazarus lay at the rich man’s gate in Luke 16:20, calling believers to mercy. God alone is the righteous King who opens the way of deliverance and summons his people to welcome, justice, and faith.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- Of cities Deuteronomy 3:5; Joshua 6:26; 1 Samuel 23:7; 2 Samuel 18:24; 2 Chronicles 8:5
- Made of iron Acts 12:10
- Made of wood Nehemiah 1:3
- Made of brass Psalms 107:16; Isaiah 45:2
- Double doors Isaiah 45:1; Ezekiel 41:24
- The open square of, a place for idlers Genesis 19:1; 1 Samuel 4:18; Psalms 69:12; Proverbs 1:21; Jeremiah 17:19; Jeremiah 17:20
- Religious services held at Acts 14:13
- The law read at Nehemiah 8
- The place for the transaction of public business, announcement of legal transactions Genesis 23:10; Genesis 23:16
- Conferences on public affairs Genesis 34:20
- Holding courts of justice Deuteronomy 16:18; Deuteronomy 21:19; Deuteronomy 22:15; Joshua 20:4; Ruth 4:1; 2 Samuel 15:2; Proverbs 22:22; Zechariah 8:16
- Place for public concourse Genesis 23:10; Proverbs 1:21; Proverbs 8:3; Jeremiah 14:2; Jeremiah 22:2
- Thrones of kings at 1 Kings 22:10; 2 Chronicles 18:9; Jeremiah 38:7; Jeremiah 39:3
- Punishment of criminals outside of Deuteronomy 17:5; Jeremiah 20:2; Acts 7:58; Hebrews 13:12
- Closed at night Joshua 2:5; Joshua 2:7
- Closed on the Sabbath Nehemiah 13:19
- Guards at 2 Kings 7:17; Nehemiah 13:19; Nehemiah 13:22
- Jails made in the towers of Jeremiah 20:2
- Bodies of criminals exposed to view at 2 Kings 10:8
- FIGURATIVE
- Of the people of a city Isaiah 3:26
- Of the gospel Isaiah 60:11
- Of the powers of hell (Hades) Matthew 16:18
- Of death Job 38:17; Psalms 9:13
- Of the grave Isaiah 38:10
- Of righteousness Psalms 118:19
- Of salvation Genesis 28:17; Psalms 24:7; Psalms 118:19; Psalms 118:20; Isaiah 26:2; Matthew 7:13
- Of death Isaiah 38:10
- SYMBOLICAL Revelation 21:12; Revelation 21:13; Revelation 21:21; Revelation 21:25
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- Design of Isaiah 62:10
- Made of
- Brass Psalms 107:16; Isaiah 45:2
- Iron Acts 12:10
- Often two-leaved Isaiah 45:1
- Fastened with bars of iron Psalms 107:16; Isaiah 45:2
- Made to
- Cities 1 Kings 17:10
- Houses Luke 16:20; Acts 12:14
- Temples Acts 3:2
- Palaces Esther 5:13
- Prisons Acts 12:10
- Camps Exodus 32:26
- Rivers Nahum 2:6
- Of cities
- Chief places of concourse Proverbs 1:21
- Courts of justice held at Deuteronomy 16:18; 2 Samuel 15:2; Proverbs 22:22; Proverbs 22:23
- Land sold at Genesis 23:10; Genesis 23:16
- Land redeemed at 2 Kings 7:1; 2 Kings 7:18
- Markets held at 2 Kings 7:1; 2 Kings 7:18
- Proclamations made at Proverbs 1:21; Jeremiah 17:19
- Councils of state held at 2 Chronicles 18:9; Jeremiah 39:3
- Conferences held at Genesis 34:20; 2 Samuel 3:27
- Public commendation given at Proverbs 31:23; Proverbs 31:31
- Public censure passed at Job 5:4; Isaiah 29:21
- Shut at night-fall Joshua 2:5; Nehemiah 13:19
- Chief points of attack in war Judges 5:8; Isaiah 22:7; Ezekiel 21:15
- Battering rams used against Ezekiel 21:22
- Experienced officers placed over 2 Kings 7:17
- Troops reviewed at, going to war 2 Samuel 18:4
- Often razed and burned Nehemiah 1:3; Lamentations 2:9
- Idolatrous rites performed at Acts 14:13
- Criminals punished at Deuteronomy 17:5; Jeremiah 20:2
- Custom of sitting at, in the evening, alluded to Genesis 19:1
- Of the temple
- Called gates of Zion Lamentations 1:4
- Called gates of righteousness Psalms 118:19
- Called gates of the Lord Psalms 118:20
- Overlaid with gold 2 Kings 18:16
- One specially beautiful Acts 3:2
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