Easton's Bible Dictionary: M. G. Easton, M.A., D.D.

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 Ki. 6:34, 35; 2 Ki. 18:16); of the holy place (1 Ki. 6:31, 32; Ezek. 41:23, 24); of the outer courts of the temple, the beautiful gate (Acts 3:2).
4. Tombs (Mt. 27:60).
5. Prisons (Acts 12:10, 16:27).
6. Caverns (1 Ki. 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 (Dt. 16:18, 17:8, 21:19, 25:6, 7, etc.). At the gates prophets also frequently delivered their messages (Pr. 1:21, 8:3; Isa. 29:21; Jer. 17:19, 20, 26:10). Criminals were punished without the gates (1 Ki. 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") Mt. 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.