Revelation 21:13
in Revelation 21There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
on the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
KJV
On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
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This verse in Revelation 21
Commentary
12 notes on this verseOn the east three gates,.... On which were written the names of Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan: on the north three gates; on which were written the names of Reuben, Judah, and Levi: on the south three gates; on which were written the names of Simeon, Issachar, and Zabulon: and on the west three gates; on which were written the names of Gad, Asher, and Naphtali; see Eze 48:
This site's exposition
twelve gates
on Revelation 21:12-14
The wall has twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel and twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles. There are three gates on each side, the pattern of Israel's camp around the tabernacle in Numbers 2.
This site's exposition
three gates on the east
The gates face every direction. Albert Barnes reads the equal count on each side as access to the city from every quarter of the earth. John Gill follows Ezekiel 48:30 to 34, where each gate of the restored city bears the name of one tribe, three to a side.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A commentator
Victorinus of PettauCommentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
proposed
In that he says there are three gates placed on each of the four sides, of single pearls, I think that these are the four virtues, to wit, prudence, fortitude, justice, temperance, which are associated with one another. And, being involved together, they make the number twelve. But the twelve gates we believe to be the number of the apostles, who, shining in the four virtues as precious stones, manifesting the light of their doctrine among the saints, cause it to enter the celestial city, that by intercourse with them the choir of angels may be gladdened.
It says that the gates are divided into four groups: "on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates." This signifies that the four parts of the world have accepted the mystery of …
And the twelve tribes indicate the fullness of the faithful; for having once called the faithful Israel, he has also adhered to the number of their fullness, saying twelve tribes, and he says that from the four quarters of the world there were three at …
A commentator
Caesarius of ArlesEXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 21:13, HOMILY 19 · Written before 542.
proposed
The city that is described is the church, which is extended throughout the whole world. There are groups of three gates on each of the four sides because throughout the four quarters of the world the mystery of the Trinity is preached in the church.
The Medieval Church1 voice
The four-sided form of the gates and their threefold entries signifies the understanding of the one who worships the Trinity. This understanding is throughout the four-cornered universe, and we have received it through the life-giving cross. For the cruciform shape of the position of the …
4 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
To the east three gates, etc. I believe that this detailed description of the gates was meant to indicate the mystery of the number twelve, by which either the sum of the apostles or the perfection of the Church is represented, because through it, the …
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
On the east three gates ... - The city was square Rev 21:16, and the same number of gates is assigned to each quarter. There does not appear to be any special significancy in this fact, unless it be to denote that there is access to this city from all quarters of the world, and that they who dwell there will have come from each of the great divisions of the earth - that is, from every land,
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
On the north . . . on the south--A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic read, "And on the north and on the south." In Ezekiel, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan (for which Manasseh is substituted in Re 7:6), are on the east (Eze 48:32); Reuben, Judah, Levi, are on the north (Eze 48:31);
On the east three gates - The city is here represented as standing to the four cardinal points of heaven, and presenting one side to each of these points.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀπὸ | apo | On | G575 → | 640 times |
| ἀνατολῆς | anatoles | [the] east | G395 → | 10 times |
| πυλῶνες | pulones | [were] gates | G4440 → | 18 times |
| τρεῖς, | treis | three, | G5140 → | 69 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | on | G575 → | 640 times |
| βορρᾶ | borra | [the] north | G1005 → | |
| πυλῶνες | pulones | gates | G4440 → | 18 times |
| τρεῖς, | treis | three, | G5140 → | 69 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | on | G575 → | 640 times |
| νότου | notou | [the] south | G3558 → | |
| πυλῶνες | pulones | gates | G4440 → | 18 times |
| τρεῖς, | treis | three, | G5140 → | 69 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | on | G575 → | 640 times |
| δυσμῶν | dusmon | [the] west | G1424 → | |
| πυλῶνες | pulones | gates | G4440 → | 18 times |
| τρεῖς. | treis | three. | G5140 → | 69 times |
ἀπὸOn
apoG575 →640 times
ἀνατολῆς[the] east
anatolesG395 →10 times
πυλῶνες[were] gates
pulonesG4440 →18 times
τρεῖς,three,
treisG5140 →69 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀπὸon
apoG575 →640 times
βορρᾶ[the] north
borraG1005 →
πυλῶνεςgates
pulonesG4440 →18 times
τρεῖς,three,
treisG5140 →69 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀπὸon
apoG575 →640 times
νότου[the] south
notouG3558 →
πυλῶνεςgates
pulonesG4440 →18 times
τρεῖς,three,
treisG5140 →69 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀπὸon
apoG575 →640 times
δυσμῶν[the] west
dusmonG1424 →
πυλῶνεςgates
pulonesG4440 →18 times
τρεῖς.three.
treisG5140 →69 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies35
On this chapter
- The Apocalypse of Weeks
- Revelation, the Canon's Closing Scroll
- Courage
- Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism
- Darkness
- Ezekiel's Temple, Ezekiel 40-48
Show the next 6 titles
- The Fall Feasts
- The Hebrew Feasts
- God and the Nations, from Abraham to the New Jerusalem
- God Dwelling with His People, from Eden to the New Jerusalem
- Heaven
- Immanuel
Show the next 6 titles
About Revelation
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 21:13; Apringius of Beja, TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 21:13; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Caesarius of Arles, EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 21:13, HOMILY 19; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.