Gate

Gate - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

(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.

Gate - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

GATE, n.

1. A large door which gives entrance into a walled city, a castle, a temple, palace or other large edifice. It differs from door chiefly in being larger. Gate signifies both the opening or passage, and the frame of boards, planks or timber which closes the passage.

2. A frame of timber which opens or closes a passage into any court, garden or other inclosed ground; also, the passage.

3. The frame which shuts or stops the passage of water through a dam into a flume.

4. An avenue; an opening; a way.

In scripture, figuratively, power, dominion. ""Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;"" that is, towns and fortresses. Gen 22.

The gates of hell, are the power and dominion of the devil and his instruments. Mat 16.

The gates of death, are the brink of the grave. Psa 9.