Gates: Fastened With Bars of Iron
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Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, gates often symbolize power, authority, and protection. They serve as critical points of entry and defense for cities and fortresses. The phrase "fastened with bars of iron" emphasizes the strength and security of these gates, suggesting an impenetrable barrier that requires divine intervention to overcome.

Biblical References

The imagery of gates fastened with bars of iron is notably found in Psalm 107:16: "For He has broken down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron." . This verse highlights God's power to liberate and deliver His people from seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The context of Psalm 107 is one of thanksgiving for God's deliverance from various forms of distress, including captivity and bondage. The breaking of iron bars signifies God's ability to free His people from the strongest of confinements.

In Isaiah 45:2, the Lord promises Cyrus, the Persian king, that He will "go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron." . This prophecy underscores God's sovereignty and His role in orchestrating historical events to fulfill His purposes. The breaking of iron bars here symbolizes the removal of barriers to accomplish divine plans, demonstrating that no human fortification can withstand God's will.

Symbolism and Interpretation

The gates fastened with bars of iron represent formidable challenges or strongholds that stand in opposition to God's purposes or the well-being of His people. In a spiritual sense, these gates can symbolize the barriers of sin, oppression, or spiritual bondage that hold individuals captive. The breaking of these gates by divine intervention is a powerful metaphor for salvation and deliverance.

From a theological perspective, the imagery of iron bars being cut through by God serves as a reminder of His omnipotence and His commitment to the redemption of His people. It reassures believers of God's ability to overcome any obstacle, no matter how daunting it may appear.

Historical and Cultural Context

In ancient Near Eastern cities, gates were not only defensive structures but also places of commerce, legal transactions, and social interaction. They were often fortified with materials like bronze and iron to withstand attacks. The strength of a city's gates was a measure of its security and stability. Thus, the biblical references to gates fastened with bars of iron would have resonated with contemporary audiences as a depiction of ultimate security and strength.

Application for Believers

For believers, the concept of gates fastened with bars of iron serves as an encouragement to trust in God's power to break through the barriers in their lives. It is a call to faith, reminding Christians that no situation is beyond God's ability to redeem and transform. The imagery invites believers to rely on God's strength rather than their own, acknowledging that true deliverance comes from Him alone.

In summary, the biblical motif of gates fastened with bars of iron encapsulates themes of divine power, deliverance, and the overcoming of obstacles. It serves as a powerful testament to God's ability to break through the strongest barriers, offering hope and assurance to those who trust in Him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Psalm 107:16
For he has broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 45:2
I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Delivered from Prison
... With the prison doors securely fastened, and a strong guard ... But the bolts and bars
and the Roman guard ... Most High passes through, and the gates close noiselessly ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 15 delivered from prison.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem.
... by a score of men, and which was secured by immense bars of iron fastened deep in ...
and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates."(44 ...
/.../1 the destruction of jerusalem.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem
... by a score of men, and which was secured by immense bars of iron fastened deep in
the ... wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates." Deuteronomy 28 ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 1 the destruction of.htm

Jewish Homes
... covered with iron, and secured by strong bars and bolts ... The gates opened upon large
squares, on which the ... The doors, which moved on hinges fastened with wooden ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 6 jewish homes.htm

The Waterer Watered
... by your abundance; pull up the flood-gates and let ... Look at those feet fastened to
the wood with nails ... cord which cannot be broken, and like iron bars made red ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the waterer watered.htm

The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment:
... and the bars of the grave are now carried away on our shoulders, as Samson carried
away the gates of the ... If there were ten thousand bars of iron, or walls ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the resurrection of the dead.htm

The Soul Winner
... that is to say his life"is not a thing fastened upon him ... main force of grace, to
capture it, to break down the bars of brass and dash the gates of iron ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the soul winner.htm

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners Or, a Brief Relation of ...
... in my mind, but, suddenly, this conclusion was fastened on my ... Good Lord, break it
open: Lord, break these gates of brass, and cut these bars of iron ...
/.../bunyan/grace abounding to the chief of sinners/grace abounding to the chief.htm

The Journey of the Three Holy Kings to Bethlehem
... Her pointed bodice was fastened tightly round her hips and ... forth, bearing on it a
tower with several gates. ... his girdle a handful of little thick shining bars. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xiii the journey of the.htm

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
... in my mind, but suddenly this conclusion was fastened on my ... cried, Good Lord, break
it open; Lord, break these gates of brass, and cut these bars of iron ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/grace abounding to the chief.htm

Resources
What will be the purpose of the walls around the New Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of a city gate in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that God is the King of glory? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Gates

Gates of Christ

Gates of Cities

Gates of Cities: Battering Rams Used Against

Gates of Cities: Chief Places of Concourse

Gates of Cities: Chief Points of Attack in War

Gates of Cities: Conferences Held At

Gates of Cities: Councils of State Held At

Gates of Cities: Courts of Justice Held At

Gates of Cities: Criminals Punished At

Gates of Cities: Custom of Sitting At, in the Evening, Alluded To

Gates of Cities: Experienced officers Placed Over

Gates of Cities: Idolatrous Rites Performed At

Gates of Cities: Land Redeemed At

Gates of Cities: Land Sold At

Gates of Cities: Markets Held At

Gates of Cities: Often Razed and Burned

Gates of Cities: Proclamations Made At

Gates of Cities: Public Censure Passed At

Gates of Cities: Public Commendation Given At

Gates of Cities: Shut at Night-Fall

Gates of Cities: Troops Reviewed At, Going to War

Gates of Death

Gates of Hell

Gates of Jerusalem: Corner Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Dung Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Fish Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Gate of Ephraim

Gates of Jerusalem: Gate of Miphkad

Gates of Jerusalem: Gate of the Fountain

Gates of Jerusalem: High Gate of Benjamin

Gates of Jerusalem: Horse Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Old Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Sheep Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Valley Gate

Gates of Jerusalem: Water Gate

Gates of Righteousness

Gates of Salvation

Gates of the Gospel

Gates of the Grave

Gates of the People of a City

Gates of the Powers of Hell (Hades)

Gates of the Temple: Called Gates of Righteousness

Gates of the Temple: Called Gates of the Lord

Gates of the Temple: Called Gates of Zion

Gates of the Temple: Charge of, Given by Lot

Gates of the Temple: Frequented by Beggars

Gates of the Temple: Levites the Porters of

Gates of the Temple: One Specially Beautiful

Gates of the Temple: Overlaid With Gold

Gates of the Temple: The Pious Israelites Delighted to Enter

Gates of the Temple: The Treasury Placed At

Gates: (Of Heaven) Access to God

Gates: (Of Hell) Satan's Power

Gates: (Of the Grave) Death

Gates: (Strait) the Entrance to Life

Gates: (Wide) the Entrance to Ruin

Gates: Bodies of Criminals Exposed to View At

Gates: Carcase of Sin-Offering Burned Without

Gates: Closed at Night

Gates: Closed on the Sabbath

Gates: Conferences on Public Affairs

Gates: Criminals Generally Punished Without

Gates: Design of

Gates: Double Doors

Gates: Fastened With Bars of Iron

Gates: Guards At

Gates: Holding Courts of Justice

Gates: Jails Made in the Towers of

Gates: Made of Brass

Gates: Made of Iron

Gates: Made of Wood

Gates: Made to Camps

Gates: Made to Cities

Gates: Made to Houses

Gates: Made to Palaces

Gates: Made to Prisons

Gates: Made to Rivers

Gates: Made to Temples

Gates: Often Two-Leaved

Gates: Place for Public Concourse

Gates: Punishment of Criminals Outside of

Gates: Religious Services Held At

Gates: Symbolical

Gates: The Law Read At

Gates: The Open Square of, a Place for Idlers

Gates: The Place for the Transaction of Public Business, Announcement of Legal Transactions

Gates: Thrones of Kings At

Related Terms

Gateways (6 Occurrences)

Manservant (14 Occurrences)

Man-servant (18 Occurrences)

Load (22 Occurrences)

Bars (50 Occurrences)

Levite (43 Occurrences)

Maid-servant (49 Occurrences)

Oppress (57 Occurrences)

Maidservants (28 Occurrences)

Menservants (19 Occurrences)

Shaaraim (3 Occurrences)

West (110 Occurrences)

Bar (27 Occurrences)

Aliens (53 Occurrences)

Chooses (36 Occurrences)

Maidservant (73 Occurrences)

Gatekeepers (38 Occurrences)

Fatherless (44 Occurrences)

Fenced (61 Occurrences)

4500 (5 Occurrences)

Orphan (25 Occurrences)

Overhead (4 Occurrences)

Inscribed (20 Occurrences)

Doorposts (15 Occurrences)

Derbe (4 Occurrences)

Doorkeeper (8 Occurrences)

Middle (169 Occurrences)

Massive (4 Occurrences)

Partition (4 Occurrences)

Allotment (24 Occurrences)

Rejoiced (83 Occurrences)

South (170 Occurrences)

Reeds (27 Occurrences)

Fortresses (45 Occurrences)

Guards (42 Occurrences)

Doorkeepers (37 Occurrences)

Walls (152 Occurrences)

Porters (34 Occurrences)

Ruins (84 Occurrences)

Foreigner (99 Occurrences)

Alien (102 Occurrences)

Entry (36 Occurrences)

Widow (71 Occurrences)

East (228 Occurrences)

Treasury (25 Occurrences)

Stationed (49 Occurrences)

Female (95 Occurrences)

Ceremonially (38 Occurrences)

Descendants (326 Occurrences)

Doors (149 Occurrences)

Unquenchable (5 Occurrences)

Openings (27 Occurrences)

Jupiter (3 Occurrences)

Lusteth (6 Occurrences)

Guarding (16 Occurrences)

Gazelle (12 Occurrences)

Woolen (6 Occurrences)

Watches (23 Occurrences)

Inflict (25 Occurrences)

Foundations (49 Occurrences)

Transparent (7 Occurrences)

Trusting (45 Occurrences)

Trusted (82 Occurrences)

Trustedst (3 Occurrences)

Talmon (5 Occurrences)

Roebuck (5 Occurrences)

Respectively (2 Occurrences)

Roe (21 Occurrences)

Recount (39 Occurrences)

Entrances (6 Occurrences)

Desireth (26 Occurrences)

Door-posts (11 Occurrences)

Death-shade (16 Occurrences)

Dragged (19 Occurrences)

Kine (24 Occurrences)

Praises (66 Occurrences)

Pearl (5 Occurrences)

Palaces (37 Occurrences)

Gates: Double Doors
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