Meaning
is used (a) literally, for a larger sort of "gate," in the wall either of a city or palace or temple, Luk 7:12, of Nain (burying places were outside the "gates" of cities); Act 3:10, Act 9:24, Act 12:10, Heb 13:12; (b) metaphorically, of the "gates" at the entrances of the ways leading to life and to destruction, Mat 1:7-14; some mss. have pule, for thura, "a door," in Luk 13:24 (see the RV); of the "gates" of Hades, Mat 16:18, than which nothing was regarded as stronger. The importance and strength of "gates" made them viewed as synonymous with power. by metonymy, the "gates" stood for those who held government and administered justice there.
<2,,4440, pulon>
akin to No. 1, primarily signifies "a porch or vestibule," e.g., Mat 26:71, Luk 16:20, Act 10:17, Act 1:12-14; then, the "gateway" or "gate tower" of a walled town, Act 14:13, Rev 1:21-13, Rev 21:15, Rev 21:21, Rev 21:25, Rev 22:14.
Notes: (1) In Act 3:2 thura denotes, not a "gate," but a "door," RV. See DOOR. (2) Probatikos, signifying "of, or belonging to, sheep," denotes a sheep "gate" in Joh 5:2, RV, and AV marg. (3) The conjectural emendation which suggests the idea of "floods" for "gates" in Mat 16:18 is not sufficiently substantiated to be accepted.
