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.

The gate and gateways of eastern cities anciently held and still hold an important part, not only in the defence but in the public economy of the place. They are thus sometimes taken as representing the city itself. (Genesis 22:17; 24:60; 12:12; Judges 5:8; Ruth 4:10; Psalms 87:2; 122:2) Among the special purposes for which they were used may be mentioned.

GATE. 1 Sam 4:18. The entrances to walled cities are secured by gates of either wood, iron, or brass. Acts 12:10. Houses also were protected in the same way, and sometimes a door or passage was made in the gate, so as to save the necessity of opening the whole gate every time a single person would pass. Acts 12:13. In many Asiatic cities there were broad streets covered over wholly or in part, and appropriated to merchants or tradesmen in particular branches of business, and there were also open squares in which the booths and stalls of venders were erected. These were frequently at the gates of the city, which were, of course, places of the greatest concourse. 2 Sam 15:2, 2 Kgs 7:1; Neh 8:1; Job 29:7; Prov 22:22; Prov 31:23. The gates were often also the places of judicial proceedings, Deut 17:5; Deut 25:7; Am 5:10, Am 5:12, Am 5:15 — the mode of conducting which may be learned from Ruth 4:1-12 — and of general resort. Gen 19:1, and, of course, frequented by idlers and loungers. Ps 69:12. In Arabia the gate of the city is still the place of judgment. Gate of Damascus. As the possession of the gates of the city was a possession of the city itself, the word is sometimes used to signify power. Gen 22:17; Isa 24:12. Hence the expression of our Lord that "the gates of hell"(Hades) shall never prevail against his Church. Matt 16:18. The government of the sultan is called "the Sublime Porte." Gates, like doors, were often ornamented, 1 Kgs 6:34; 2 Kgs 18:16, etc.; the Beautiful Gate, Acts 3:2, required 20 men to close it. "The figurative expression 'to exalt the gate,' Prov 17:19 — i.e. to have the opening of the gateway lofty — implies ostentation, which is likely to provoke envy, and therefore leads often to destruction." — Ayre.

GATE. 1 Sam 4:18. The entrances to walled cities are secured by gates of either wood, iron, or brass. Acts 12:10. Houses also were protected in the same way, and sometimes a door or passage was made in the gate, so as to save the necessity of opening the whole gate every time a single person would pass. Acts 12:13. In many Asiatic cities

there were broad streets covered over wholly or in part, and appropriated to merchants or tradesmen in particular branches of business, and there were also open squares in which the booths and stalls of venders were erected. These were frequently at the gates of the city, which were, of course, places of the greatest concourse. 2 Sam 15:2, 2 Kgs 7:1; Neh 8:1; Job 29:7; Prov 22:22; Prov 31:23. The gates were often also the places of judicial proceedings, Deut 17:5; Deut 25:7; Am 5:10, Am 5:12, Am 5:15 — the mode of conducting which may be learned from Ruth 4:1-12 — and of general resort. Gen 19:1, and, of course, frequented by idlers and loungers. Ps 69:12. In Arabia the gate of the city is still the place of judgment. Gate of Damascus. As the possession of the gates of the city was a possession of the city itself, the word is sometimes used to signify power. Gen 22:17; Isa 24:12. Hence the expression of our Lord that "the gates of hell"(Hades) shall never prevail against his Church. Matt 16:18. The government of the sultan is called "the Sublime Porte." Gates, like doors, were often ornamented, 1 Kgs 6:34; 2 Kgs 18:16, etc.; the Beautiful Gate, Acts 3:2, required 20 men to close it. "The figurative expression 'to exalt the gate,' Prov 17:19 — i.e. to have the opening of the gateway lofty — implies ostentation, which is likely to provoke envy, and therefore leads often to destruction." — Ayre.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A large door or passageway in the wall of a city, of an inclosed field or place, or of a grand edifice, etc.; also, the movable structure of timber, metal, etc., by which the passage can be closed.

2. An opening for passage in any inclosing wall, fence, or barrier; or the suspended framework which closes or opens a passage. Also, figuratively, a means or way of entrance or of exit. Knowest thou the way to Dover Both stile and gate, horse way and footpath. Shak. Opening a gate for a long war. Knolles.

3. A door, valve, or other device, for stopping the passage of water through a dam, lock, pipe, etc.

4. The places which command the entrances or access; hence, place of vantage; power; might. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt. xvi. 18.

5. In a lock tumbler, the opening for the stump of the bolt to pass through or into.

6. The channel or opening through which metal is poured into the mold; the ingate.

7. The waste piece of metal cast in the opening; a sprue or sullage piece. [Written also geat and git.] Gate chamber, a recess in the side wall of a canal lock, which receives the opened gate. -- Gate channel. See Gate, 5. -- Gate hook, the hook-formed piece of a gate hinge. -- Gate money, entrance money for admission to an inclosure. -- Gate tender, one in charge of a gate, as at a railroad crossing. -- Gate valva, a stop valve for a pipe, having a sliding gate which affords a straight passageway when open. -- Gate vein (Anat.), the portal vein. -- To break gates (Eng. Univ.), to enter a college inclosure after the hour to which a student has been restricted. -- To stand in the gate, or gates, to occupy places or advantage, power, or defense.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A way; a path; a road; a street (as in Highgate). [O. Eng. & Scot.] I was going to be an honest man; but the devil has this very day flung first a lawyer, and then a woman, in my gate. Sir W. Scott.

2. Manner; gait. [O. Eng. & Scot.]

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To supply with a gate.