The gates of Jerusalem hold great significance in the Bible, both historically and spiritually. Jerusalem was a fortified city, and its gates served as important access points, controlling entry into and exit from the city. Several key events took place at the gates, and they are repeatedly mentioned throughout Scripture as places of gathering, business, and civic administration. The gates also took on symbolic meaning regarding God’s protection and the hope of the Messiah’s coming.
Physically, Jerusalem was surrounded by walls with gates placed at intervals to allow controlled access. According to Nehemiah 3, there were around ten gates that gave entrance into the city. The gates were more than just passageways; they were central hubs of activity, akin to town squares. People would gather at the gates to buy and sell goods, hear important announcements, seek justice from city elders, and witness ceremonies. The Old Testament records some prominent biblical events happening right at the gates of Jerusalem.
One major episode occurred at the Fish Gate, where Jeremiah was beaten and put in stocks for prophesying the city’s destruction (Jeremiah 20:1-2). The Water Gate is where Nehemiah gathered people to hear the rediscovered Book of the Law and initiate religious reforms (Nehemiah 8). King Zedekiah fled through an escape route by the King’s Garden near the Gate of the Guard as the Babylonians breached the city (Jeremiah 39:4).
Beyond notable historic happenings, the gates served a symbolic purpose. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise,” says Psalm 100:4, portraying the gates as places of joyful worship. Isaiah 62 depicts God posting watchmen on Jerusalem’s walls who intercede day and night until the city’s righteousness “shines like the dawn.” Spiritually, the open gates represented free access to God’s presence and the restoration of proper relationship with him.
An important Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 60 promises that Zion’s gates “will always stand open, day and night” as nations stream in to worship God and resplendent glory fills the city. This points to the future hope of Jerusalem’s exalted place when Jesus returns. It also signifies open access to salvation through Christ. Hebrews 13:12 draws a parallel between Jesus suffering “outside the gate” and believers going “outside the camp” to join him in his reproach – picturing the rejection of worldly pleasures to identify wholeheartedly with Christ.
The destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 was extremely significant in light of the gates’ protective purpose. When the Romans breached the walls and poured through the smashed entry points, it represented a conquest of God’s chosen city. Jesus himself lamented this coming devastation (Luke 19:41-44). However, the book of Revelation reveals the New Jerusalem coming down with twelve gates of unsurpassable beauty (Revelation 21:10-21). So the gates ultimately represent the hope of God’s eternal city where righteousness dwells.
In summary, the gates of Jerusalem held both physical and symbolic importance in biblical history. They controlled access and marked key locations where significant events happened. But beyond their earthly existence, the gates embodied spiritual truths. In prophecies and teachings, they signified the hope of salvation, righteous dwelling with God, and the fulfillment of Messianic promises. For believers, the gates represent welcoming access to Christ and the anticipation of God’s restored presence in the New Jerusalem.
Key Events at the Gates of Jerusalem
Here are some of the major biblical events that happened at the gates of Jerusalem:
- Jeremiah beaten and put in stocks at the Fish Gate for prophesying (Jeremiah 20:1-2)
- Reading of the rediscovered Book of the Law by Ezra at the Water Gate (Nehemiah 8:1-3)
- King Zedekiah’s fleeing through the King’s Garden gate when Babylonians conquered the city (Jeremiah 39:4)
- Hezekiah’s displaying the booty from Sennacherib at the gates (2 Kings 18:13-16)
- Elders handling civic matters like property disputes at the city gates (Ruth 4:1-12)
- The judging of Boaz’s right to marry Ruth at the city gates (Ruth 4:1-12)
- Samson carrying off the doors and posts of the Gaza city gate (Judges 16:1-3)
These examples showcase how the gates teemed with daily life and business. But they could also be scenes of military siege, conquest, and national disaster when Jerusalem’s security was breached. The activity and importance of the gates is evident throughout biblical history.
The Gates as Places of Gathering
More than just passageways, the gates of Jerusalem served as central public squares where the life of the city flowed through. Here are some key purposes the gates served as gathering places:
- Commerce – Buying and selling goods, daily business transactions (2 Kings 7:1)
- Justice – Elders heard cases and disputes, dispensed judgments (Deuteronomy 22:15; Ruth 4:11)
- Civic administration – Officials made binding decisions regarding community affairs (Deuteronomy 16:18; 2 Samuel 15:2)
- News and proclamations – Important announcements made to the gathered public (2 Samuel 18:31; Jeremiah 17:19-20)
- Religion – Temple worshippers entered here, priests inspected people for purity (Acts 3:1-2)
So the gates were constantly bustling with the daily workings of Jerusalem and the people of Israel. Justice, business, politics, and faith all converged at these access points into the holy city.
The Gates as Symbols
Beyond their practical functions, the gates also took on symbolic meaning in the Bible:
- God’s protection – Having secure gates represented divine protection, open gates meant conquest by enemies (Psalm 107:16; Jeremiah 51:30)
- Place of praise – Worshipping God joyfully upon entering the gates of righteousness (Psalm 100:4)
- Zion exalted – Isaiah 60 depicts nations streaming through the ever-open gates to worship on God’s holy mountain, a picture of Zion’s restoration
- Access to God – Open gates represent the welcome of God’s presence and free access to righteous dwelling with Him (Isaiah 60:11; Psalm 118:19-20)
These motifs emphasize how the gates took on metaphorical significance related to God’s purposes being fulfilled through Jerusalem. They could represent the presence, protection, and welcome of the Lord when righteousness prevailed in the city.
The Gates in Prophecy
As meaningful symbols, the gates feature prominently in key Messianic prophecies regarding Jerusalem’s restored status and the coming of Christ:
- Isaiah 60 – Radiance shining on Zion with gates open continually for nations to stream in worship
- Isaiah 62 – Watchmen on Jerusalem’s walls who intercede until its righteousness goes forth like the dawn
- Psalm 24 – Calls for the opening of the gates that the King of Glory may come in, widely interpreted to reference Christ’s triumphal entry
- Zechariah 14 – On the day of the Lord, living waters flow out from Jerusalem with half toward the Eastern Gate
These passages depict the Messianic age when God dwells fully with His people in Jerusalem. The open and glorious gates signify restored access and relationship with the Lord. For Christians, they ultimately point to Christ through whom we enter salvation.
The Gates and Jesus
Though Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem’s gates, their symbolism figured prominently in his ministry in the following ways:
- Jesus entered triumphantly through the Eastern Gate on Palm Sunday, fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy of the king coming (Zechariah 9:9; John 12:12-15)
- Hebrews compares Jesus suffering “outside the gate” to believers going “outside the camp” to identify with him in reproach (Hebrews 13:12-14)
- Jesus laments the coming destruction of Jerusalem, its encircling walls, and gates by invaders (Luke 19:41-44)
- Christ claims to be “the gate” through which the sheep enter for salvation and go in and out to find pasture (John 10:7-9)
So the gates pointed both to Jesus’ mission and his provision of spiritual access. He embodied the gateway to the peace and righteousness of God’s kingdom.
The Gates of the New Jerusalem
The final two chapters of Revelation provide the climax to the gates’ spiritual symbolism. Here the gates represent the welcoming beauty, honor, and righteousness of God’s eternal city:
- Twelve gates in the New Jerusalem’s walls, bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (Revelation 21:12-13)
- The gates made of single pearls, highlighting wealth, beauty, and purity (Revelation 21:21)
- The open gates signify free access day and night to the glory of righteous life with God (Revelation 21:25-26)
The new heavenly city draws on the symbolic meanings found throughout Scripture. The splendid gates represent Christ welcoming us into the joyous worship, honor, and presence of God for eternity. They epitomize the hope we have in the glorious future Messianic age.
Conclusion
The gates of Jerusalem held deep importance, both physically and symbolically, throughout the Bible. They controlled access and marked where key events transpired. Gathered crowds engaged in commerce, governance, worship, and civic life. The gates also took on spiritual meaning regarding God’s protection, welcoming access to His presence, and the hope of Messianic redemption.
For Christians, the gates beautifully represent Christ himself as the entryway to salvation and righteous life with God. Their prophesied splendor points to the hope of eternity enjoyed in God’s glorious, holy city, with the gates ever open into His fullness of joy. The gates of Jerusalem in Scripture ultimately signify the abundant life believers are promised eternally through faith in Christ.
