Overview
The Bible addresses gates across 20 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 1 Chronicles, Genesis and Hebrews. Closely related themes include Porters, Jacob, Jews, the and Types of Christ. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jesus.
Key Bible verses about gates
Old Testament
Genesis
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. spread: Heb. break forth
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
1 Chronicles
And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate. as well: or, as well for the small as for the great
And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward. Shelemiah: also called Meshelemiah, ver.I.
To Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim. Asuppim: Heb. gatherings
To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.
Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.
At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.
Jeremiah
Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;
And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:
New Testament
Hebrews
For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Revelation
And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
People in the Bible and gates
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying gates for yourself
- Begin with Genesis 28:12, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how 1 Chronicles, Genesis and Hebrews each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Porters, Jacob, Jews, the and Types of Christ.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about gates?
The Bible addresses gates across 20 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 1 Chronicles, Genesis and Hebrews. Closely related themes include Porters, Jacob, Jews, the and Types of Christ. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jesus.
How many Bible verses are about gates?
The Bible references gates in 20 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention gates?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 28:12: “And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.”
Which people in the Bible are associated with gates?
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jesus.
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