Topical Bible: Gatekeepers

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Gatekeepers in the Bible held a significant role, particularly in the context of the temple and the city gates. Their duties were both practical and spiritual, serving as protectors and overseers of sacred spaces and community order.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, gatekeepers were primarily associated with the temple in Jerusalem. They were part of the Levitical order, appointed to guard the gates of the house of the LORD. Their responsibilities included ensuring that only those who were ceremonially clean could enter the temple precincts, thus maintaining the sanctity of the worship space.

1 Chronicles 9:22-27 provides a detailed account of the gatekeepers' duties: "All these chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds were 212 in number. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their positions of trust. So they and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD—the house called the tent of meeting. The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north, and south. Their kinsmen came from their villages at fixed times to serve with them for seven-day periods. But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries of the house of God. They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning" .

The gatekeepers were not only guards but also stewards of the temple's resources, including its treasuries. Their role was crucial in maintaining the order and security of the temple, which was central to Israel's worship and community life.

Symbolic and Spiritual Significance

The role of gatekeepers extended beyond mere physical security. They symbolized vigilance and faithfulness, qualities essential for those who serve in God's house. The gatekeepers' duty to discern who could enter the temple reflects the broader biblical theme of holiness and separation from impurity.

In a spiritual sense, gatekeepers can be seen as guardians of the faith, ensuring that the community remains true to God's commandments and teachings. Their role is a reminder of the need for discernment and protection against influences that could lead the faithful astray.

New Testament and Broader Application

While the specific role of temple gatekeepers is not mentioned in the New Testament, the concept of spiritual vigilance continues. Believers are often called to be watchful and discerning, guarding their hearts and minds against false teachings and moral corruption.

In a broader application, the role of gatekeepers can be seen in church leadership and those who are entrusted with the care of the congregation. Pastors, elders, and other leaders serve as spiritual gatekeepers, guiding and protecting the flock from spiritual harm.

The principle of gatekeeping also applies to personal spiritual life. Christians are encouraged to be vigilant in their faith, guarding against sin and maintaining a life of holiness. As Proverbs 4:23 advises, "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life" .

Conclusion

The role of gatekeepers in the Bible, while rooted in the practical duties of temple service, carries profound spiritual implications. They exemplify the importance of vigilance, faithfulness, and the protection of what is sacred, both in communal worship and personal devotion.

Strong's Hebrew

7630. Shobay -- head of a family of gatekeepers
... 7629, 7630. Shobay. 7631 . head of a family of gatekeepers. Transliteration:
Shobay Phonetic Spelling: (sho-bah'-ee) Short Definition: Shobai. ...
/hebrew/7630.htm - 6k

7778. shoer -- a gatekeeper
shoer or shoer. 7777b, 7778. shoer or shoer. 7779 . a gatekeeper. Transliteration:
shoer or shoer Phonetic Spelling: (sho-are') Short Definition: gatekeepers ...
/hebrew/7778.htm - 6k

5592b. saph -- threshold, sill
... Word Origin from the same as saph Definition threshold, sill NASB Word Usage door
(1), doorkeeper* (1), doorkeepers* (4), gatekeepers* (1), temple (2 ...
/hebrew/5592b.htm - 5k

8179. shaar -- a gate
... gate NASB Word Usage cities (2), city (2), court (2), courts (1), each gate (1),
every gate (1), every gate (1), Gate (49), gate (195), gatekeepers* (1), gates ...
/hebrew/8179.htm - 6k

8104. shamar -- to keep, watch, preserve
... 1), cares (1), charge (4), confine (1), confined (1), defending (1), did (1),
diligently keep (1), doorkeeper* (1), doorkeepers* (4), gatekeepers* (1), give ...
/hebrew/8104.htm - 7k

Library

Having Therefore done Many and Dreadful Things against Jesus that ...
... world to be made flesh, and to be nailed to a cross, in order that I might save
Adam, whom I fashioned,"to my archangelic powers, the gatekeepers of paradise ...
/.../the narrative of joseph of arimathaea/chapter 3 having therefore done.htm

Elijah and the Widow's Son.
... of men, the wild prophet came to the fields outside Zarephath and waited; for the
place was a walled town with a low stone archway, and gatekeepers to question ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/elijah and the widows son.htm

The Gospel Refuge.
... They were supplied with wells of water, and Levites were placed in turn as porters
or gatekeepers, to be ready to welcome every fugitive into these homes of ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/iii the gospel refuge.htm

Thesaurus

Gatekeepers (38 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Gatekeepers (38 Occurrences). ... 2 Kings 7:11 and he calleth
the gatekeepers, and they declare to the house of the king within. ...
/g/gatekeepers.htm - 19k

Levites (267 Occurrences)
... reinforced when they are tested by reference to Ezekiel and Chronicles, Ezekiel
44:9-14 seems to demand of the Levites some service as gatekeepers, the slaying ...
/l/levites.htm - 72k

Priests (451 Occurrences)
... reinforced when they are tested by reference to Ezekiel and Chronicles, Ezekiel
44:9-14 seems to demand of the Levites some service as gatekeepers, the slaying ...
/p/priests.htm - 69k

Korhite (2 Occurrences)
... (Root in KJV WBS YLT). 1 Chronicles 26:19 These are the courses of the gatekeepers,
of the sons of the Korhite, and of the sons of Merari. (YLT). ...
/k/korhite.htm - 6k

Gatekeeper (5 Occurrences)

/g/gatekeeper.htm - 8k

Gatepost (1 Occurrence)

/g/gatepost.htm - 7k

Gatherings (9 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 12:25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, 'are'
gatekeepers, keeping charge in the gatherings of the gates. (YLT). ...
/g/gatherings.htm - 9k

Rephael (1 Occurrence)
... re'-fa-el, ref'-a-el (repha'el, "God has healed"; Rhaphael): The eponym of a family
of gatekeepers (1 Chronicles 26:7). The name occurs in Tobit and Enoch ...
/r/rephael.htm - 7k

Establisheth (16 Occurrences)
... the Levites over their charges, to praise and to minister over-against the priests,
according to the matter of a day in its day, and the gatekeepers in their ...
/e/establisheth.htm - 11k

Intelligent (47 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 10:28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers,
the singers, the Nethinim, and every one who hath been separated from the ...
/i/intelligent.htm - 20k

Resources

What was the significance of gatekeepers in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Nethinim? | GotQuestions.org

Topical: Biblical Culture ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Gatekeepers (38 Occurrences)

2 Kings 7:10
And they come in, and call unto the gatekeeper of the city, and declare for themselves, saying, 'We have come in unto the camp of Aram, and lo, there is not there a man, or sound of man, but the bound horse, and the bound ass, and tents as they 'are'.'
(See NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 7:11
and he calleth the gatekeepers, and they declare to the house of the king within.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 9:17
And the gatekeepers 'are' Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren -- Shallum 'is' the head;
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 9:18
and hitherto they 'are' at the gate of the king eastward; they 'are' the gatekeepers for the companies of the sons of Levi.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 9:19
And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of his father's house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the Tent; and their fathers had been over the camp of the LORD, keepers of the entry;
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 9:20
Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, and Yahweh was with him.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 9:22
All of those who are chosen for gatekeepers at the thresholds 'are' two hundred and twelve; they 'are' in their villages, by their genealogy; they whom David and Samuel the seer appointed in their office.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 9:24
At four sides are the gatekeepers, east, west, north, and south.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 9:26
For in office 'are' the four chiefs of the gatekeepers, they are Levites, and they have been over the chambers, and over the treasuries of the house of God,
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 15:18
and with them their brethren, the seconds 'in rank', Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah; and Obed-Edom and Jeiel the gatekeepers;
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 15:23
And Berechiah and Elkanah 'are' gatekeepers for the ark.
(YLT NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 15:24
And Shebaniah, and Joshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests, are blowing with trumpets before the ark of God; and Obed-Edom and Jehiah 'are' gatekeepers for the ark.
(YLT NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 16:38
both Obed-Edom and their brethren, sixty and eight, and Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and Hosah for gatekeepers,
(YLT RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 23:5
and four thousand gatekeepers, and four thousand giving praise to Jehovah, 'with instruments that I made for praising,' 'saith David.'
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 26:1
For the courses of the gatekeepers: of the Korhites 'is' Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph;
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 26:12
According to these 'are' the courses of the gatekeepers; to the heads of the mighty ones 'are' charges over-against their brethren, to minister in the house of Jehovah,
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 26:19
These are the courses of the gatekeepers, of the sons of the Korhite, and of the sons of Merari.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 8:14
And he establisheth, according to the ordinance of David his father, the courses of the priests over their service, and of the Levites over their charges, to praise and to minister over-against the priests, according to the matter of a day in its day, and the gatekeepers in their courses at gate and gate, for so 'is' the command of David the man of God.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 23:4
This 'is' the thing that ye do: The third of you, going in on the sabbath, of the priests, and of the Levites, 'are' for gatekeepers of the thresholds,
(YLT NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 23:19
and he stationeth the gatekeepers over the gates of the house of Jehovah, and the unclean in anything doth not go in.
(YLT NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 34:13
and over the burden-bearers, and overseers of every one doing work for service and service; and of the Levites 'are' scribes, and officers, and gatekeepers.
(YLT NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 35:15
And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters were at every gate; they needed not to depart from their service, for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 2:42
Sons of the gatekeepers; sons of Shallum, sons of Ater, sons of Talmon, sons of Akkub, sons of Hatita, sons of Shobai, the whole 'are' a hundred thirty and nine.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 2:70
And the priests dwell, and the Levites, and of the people, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, in their cities; even all Israel in their cities.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 7:7
And there go up of the sons of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 7:24
And to you we are making known, that upon any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, and servants of the house of God, tribute and custom there is no authority to lift up.
(YLT NIV)

Ezra 10:24
And of the singers: Eliashib. And of the gatekeepers: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 7:1
And it cometh to pass, when the wall hath been built, that I set up the doors, and the gatekeepers are appointed, and the singers, and the Levites,
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 7:3
And I said unto them: 'Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand on guard, let them shut the doors, and bar ye them; and let watches be appointed of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.'
(See NIV)

Nehemiah 7:45
The gatekeepers: sons of Shallum, sons of Ater, sons of Talmon, sons of Akkub, sons of Hatita, sons of Shobai: a hundred thirty and eight.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 7:73
And they dwell -- the priests, and the Levites, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and 'some' of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel -- in their cities, and the seventh month cometh, and the sons of Israel 'are' in their cities.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 10:28
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and every one who hath been separated from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every knowing intelligent one,
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 10:39
for unto the chambers do they bring in -- the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi -- the heave-offering of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, and there 'are' vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests, those ministering, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and we do not forsake the house of our God.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 11:19
And the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren, those watching at the gates, 'are' a hundred seventy and two.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 12:25
Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, 'are' gatekeepers, keeping charge in the gatherings of the gates.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 12:45
And the singers and the gatekeepers keep the charge of their God, even the charge of the cleansing -- according to the command of David 'and' Solomon his son,
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 12:47
And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, are giving the portions of the singers, and of the gatekeepers, the matter of a day in its day, and are sanctifying to the Levites, and the Levites are sanctifying to the sons of Aaron.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 13:5
and he maketh for him a great chamber, and there they were formerly putting the present, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithe of the corn, the new wine, and the oil -- the commanded thing of the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers -- and the heave-offering of the priests.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Gatekeepers

Related Terms

Gatekeepers (38 Occurrences)

Gateposts (1 Occurrence)

Rub (1 Occurrence)