Original Word: שַׁעַר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: sha`ar
Pronunciation: shah-ar
Phonetic Spelling: (shah'-ar)
KJV: city, door, gate, port (X -er)
NASB: gate, gates, towns, town, gateway, cities
Word Origin: [from H8176 (שָׁעַר - thinks) in its original sense]

1. an opening, i.e. door or gate

city, door, gate, port

From sha'ar in its original sense; an opening, i.e. Door or gate -- city, door, gate, port (X -er).

see HEBREW sha'ar

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a gate
NASB Translation
cities (2), city (2), court (2), courts (1), each gate (1), every gate (1), every gate (1), Gate (49), gate (195), gatekeepers* (1), gates (88), gateway (4), gateway* (2), town (6), towns (13).

שַׁ֫עַר₃₇₃ noun masculine^{2Samuel 18:24} (feminine^{Isaiah 14:31} in personification, Albr^{ZAW xvi (1896), 86}) gate; — ׳שׁ absolute Judges 9:40 +, construct Genesis 22:17 +; with ה locative, שָׁ֑עְרָה Isaiah 28:6 +; plural שְׁעָרִים 2 Samuel 18:24 +, construct שַׁעֲרֵי 1 Samuel 17:52 +; suffix שְׁעָרֶיךָ Deuteronomy 12:15 +, שַׁעֲרֵיהֶם Ezekiel 21:20; Ezekiel 48:34, etc.; —

1. a. gate, entrance to city, shut (סָגַר) by night Joshua 2:5,7 (JE), compare Isaiah 45:1, opened (מָּתַח) by day Nehemiah 7:3, compare Isaiah 60:11; for entrance (בּוֺא), and exit (יָצָא) Jeremiah 17:19,20,21,24,25,27; Lamentations 4:12; Ezekiel 26:10 +; ׳עָבַר שׁ Micah 2:13 pass out through (disregard accents), ׳בַּשׁ ׳ע Isaiah 62:10; with bars Psalm 147:13; attacked Ezekiel 21:20; Ezekiel 21:27, compare Isaiah 28:6; Micah 1:9,12; 1 Samuel 17:52; on Judges 5:8,11 see Commentaries; burned (by foe) Jeremiah 19:27; Jeremiah 51:58; Nehemiah 1:3; Nehemiah 2:3,13,17; as giving control, possession, of city, אֹיְבָיו ׳יָרַשׁ אֵת שׁ Genesis 22:17; Genesis 24:60 (J); ׳מֶּתַח הַשּׁ Judges 9:40 + (see ׳פ), ׳דַּלְתוֺת הַשּׁ 1 Samuel 21:14 + (see ׳ד

3); ׳מֶּתַחהַֿשּׁ Judges 18:16,17 of farm or village; so of camp Exodus 32:26,27 (J). In cities, elaborate structure, with roof 2 Samuel 18:24, upper chamber 2 Samuel 19:1; compare שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם Psalm 24:7; Psalm 24:9; write laws ׳בִּשׁ Deuteronomy 6:9 ( + עַלמְֿזֻזוֺת בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ), Deuteronomy 11:20 (+id..); ׳בְּתוֺךְ הַשּׁ 1 Samuel 9:18, ׳אֶלאתּוֺךְ הַשּׁ 2 Samuel 3:27; ׳(לְ)יַד שׁ as public, 1 Samuel 4:18, + 1 Samuel 4:13 ᵐ5 Th We Dr and others, compare 2 Samuel 15:2; 2 Samuel 18:4; Proverbs 8:3 ("" מְבוֺא פְתָחִים).

b. particular gates of Jerusalem are:-1אֶפְרַיִם ׳שׁ 3b); (16) הַמִּנָּה ׳שׁ 2 Kings 14:13 "" 2 Chronicles 25:23 (read הַמִּנָּה for הַמּוֺנֶה), Jeremiah 31:38; 2Chronicles 26:9; probably = הַמִּנִּים ׳שׁ Zechariah 14:10; -17הַצּאֹן ׳שׁ Nehemiah 3:1,32; Nehemiah 12:39; -18הָרִאשׁוֺן ׳שׁ Zechariah 14:10; — on sites and related to each other see RS-GASm^{Ency. Bib. JERUSALEM} Conder^{Hast. DB id.} Buhl^{G 133 ff.} Bd^{Pal. under the word} Murray^{Hd. Bk, under the word} BeRy^{Ne p. 182 ff.} Gu^ZPV, especially v (1882). 7 ff. viii (1885), 245 ff. Comm.^{on the passage variant} reading

c. of Ezekiel's holy city, שַׁעֲרֵי הָעִיר Ezekiel 48:31, three on each side, named for tribes, Ezekiel 48:31; Ezekiel 48:31; Ezekiel 48:31; Ezekiel 48:31 12t. Ezekiel 48..

2. a. gate = space inside gate, as public meeting-place, market 2 Kings 7:1,18, place of public well 2 Samuel 23:15,16 = 1 Chronicles 11:17,18, where elders, judges, king, sat officially Deuteronomy 21:19; Deuteronomy 22:15; Amos 5:12,15; Isaiah 29:21; 2 Samuel 18:24; 2 Samuel 19:9; 1 Kings 22:10 2Chronicles 18:9; Genesis 19:1 (J) Proverbs 24:7; Job 5:4; Job 31:21; Ruth 4:1 (twice in verse); Proverbs 31:23,31, etc.; of conqueror Jeremiah 1:15; apparently = ׳רְחוֺב שׁ Genesis 19:2 (J) Nehemiah 8:16; 1 Chronicles 9:16 + (see I. ׳ר); Genesis 34:20 (P) one came unto gate (בָּא אֶלֿ), so ׳בָּאֵי שׁ Genesis 23:10,18 (P) those entering the gate, i.e. having citizens' rights; also went out (to), ׳יָצָא שׁ Job 29:7 (i.e., in this case, from his own house, outside the city), hence ׳כָּליֹֿצְאֵי שׁ Genesis 34:24 (twice in verse) (P; compare also הוֺצִיא אֶלֿ Deuteronomy 21:19; Deuteronomy 22:15,24); hence = body of citizens, עַמִּי׳כָּלשֿׁ Ruth 3:11.

b. hence also = city Isaiah 14:31 ("" עִיר), Psalm 87:2, etc.

c. specifically in Deuteronomy, בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ in thy gates, i.e. thy cities, towns, etc., Deuteronomy 5:14 = Exodus 20:10; Deuteronomy 12:12,15,17,21 22t. Deuteronomy + 1 Kings 8:37 (read ׳בְּאַחַד שׁ, compare Deuteronomy 18:6; Deuteronomy 23:17, so ᵐ5 ᵑ6 modern), so "" 2 Chronicles 6:28, + (perhaps) Jeremiah 14:2 (but Jeremiah 15:7; Nahum 3:13 figurative of gates as entrance to land); of private house, שַׁעֲרֵי צַדִּיק Proverbs 14:19 (perhaps compare Judges 18:16 1a above).

3. a. gate of royal castle or palace 2 Kings 9:31; Jeremiah 22:2,4; Nehemiah 2:8; Esther 2:19 10t. Esther; specifically (of king of Judah), סוּר ׳שׁ 2 Kings 11:6 = הַיְסוֺד ׳שׁ2Chronicles 23:5 (see ׳ס, ׳יס), הָרָצִים ׳שׁ 2 Kings 11:19, ׳אַחַר הָר ׳הַשּׁ 2 Kings 11:6; ׳הַסּוּסִים בֵּית הַמּ ׳שׁ2Chronicles 23:15 ( = ׳מְבוֺא הַסּ "" 2 Kings 11:16); apparently of official residence, יְהוֺשֻׁעַ ׳מֶּתַח שׁ 2 Kings 23:8.

b. of temple Jeremiah 7:2 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 9:23; 1 Chronicles 16:42 12t. Chronicles, including ׳שַׁעֲרֵי מַחֲנוֺת י2Chronicles 31:2 (see מַחֲנֶה

1, p. 334), compare Psalm 100:4; Psalm 118:20, שַׁעֲרֵי צֶדֶק Psalm 100:19; specifically בִּנְיָמִין הָעֶלְיוֺן ׳שׁ Jeremiah 20:2, and (omit ׳בִּנְי) 2 Kings 15:35 2Chronicles 27:3; Ezekiel 9:2; 2Chronicles 23:20, הֶחָדָשׁ ׳(בֵּית) י ׳שׁ Jeremiah 26:10; Jeremiah 36:10, הַמְּנִימִית הַמּוֺנֶה ׳שׁ צָפוֺנָה Ezekiel 8:3 compare Ezekiel 8:14, Ezekiel 8:5, הַקַּדְמֹנִי ׳הַמִּזְבֵּחַ שַׁעַר בֵּית י ׳שׁ Ezekiel 10:19; Ezekiel 11:1; שַׁלֶּכֶת ׳שׁ 1 Chronicles 26:16; שַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶח 1 Chronicles 9:18.

c. of Ezekiel's temple and courts Ezekiel 40:3,6; Ezekiel 44:11,17 67t. Ezekiel 40-47.

d. of court of tabernacle (P), הֶחָצֵר ׳שׁ Exodus 27:16; Exodus 35:17 + 6t. Exodus + Numbers 4:36.

4 figurative הַשָּׁמַיִם ׳זֶה שׁ Genesis 28:17 (E; "" בֵּית אֱלֹהִים); plural שַׁעֲרֵי שְׁאוֺל Isaiah 38:10; מָֿוֶת׳שׁ Job 38:17; Psalm 9:14; Psalm 107:18; צַלְמָוֶת ׳שׁ Job 38:17.

תְּרַע noun [masculine] gate, door (ᵑ7 Syriac; Biblical Hebrew שַׁ֫עַר, √I. שׁער); — construct ׳ת:

1 door of furnace Daniel 3:26.

2 gate of king, i.e. palace, court, Daniel 2:29 (compare Esther 2:19, see שַׁ֫עַר

3a; also Arabic gate, then the court of a sovereign; plural Sublime Porte, of Turkish court, see especially Dozy^{i. 124}).

Overview

The Hebrew noun שַׁעַר (shaʿar) designates a gate, gateway, or entrance. Its 374 occurrences span narrative, legal, poetic, and prophetic literature, revealing a motif that is at once literal, symbolic, and theological.

Architectural and Civic Function

Ancient Near-Eastern cities were enclosed by walls, and the gate was the most vulnerable yet indispensable part of the fortification. Scripture repeatedly pairs “walls and gates” (Deuteronomy 3:5; 2 Chronicles 14:7), underscoring their strategic partnership. Gates were framed with heavy timber (Nehemiah 2:3), reinforced with bars of iron and bronze (Psalm 107:16), and often flanked by multiple chambers (Ezekiel 40:6-16).

Judicial and Administrative Center

The gate complex doubled as the civic forum. Elders, judges, and kings dispensed justice and policy “in the gate”:
• Deuteronomy 16:18 – “Appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every gate.”
• Ruth 4:1-11 – Boaz secures legal redemption at Bethlehem’s gate.
• Proverbs 31:23 – “Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.”

Prophets condemn corruption there (Amos 5:10-15) because malfeasance at the gate compromised the entire community.

Commerce and Social Interaction

Markets clustered near the gate (2 Kings 7:1; Nehemiah 13:19). Travelers, beggars, and news-bearers gathered there (1 Samuel 4:13; 2 Kings 7:3). Hence, when Job remembers his former honor he recalls, “When I went to the gate of the city… the young men saw me and withdrew” (Job 29:7-8).

Military Significance and Security

To “possess the gate of enemies” was to control them (Genesis 22:17; 24:60). Threats to breach gates symbolize existential danger (Judges 5:8). Conversely, divine protection is pictured in fortified gates: “For He strengthens the bars of your gates” (Psalm 147:13).

Cultic and Liturgical Dimensions

Temple precincts had multiple gates, each with prescribed use (1 Chronicles 9:17-27). Pilgrims “enter His gates with thanksgiving” (Psalm 100:4), and the Korahite doorkeepers were honored for guarding holiness (Psalm 84:10). Ezekiel’s vision devotes three whole chapters to future temple gates (Ezekiel 40-42), rooting eschatological hope in sanctified access.

Poetic and Prophetic Imagery

Shaʿar expands beyond masonry to cosmic and moral vistas:
• Gates of righteousness – Psalm 118:19-20.
• Gates of death – Job 38:17; Psalm 9:13.
• Gates of tears – Lamentations 2:9.
• Gates of the daughter of Zion – Isaiah 62:10, heralding salvation.

The command “Lift up your heads, O gates” (Psalm 24:7) personifies creation welcoming the King of Glory.

Messianic and Eschatological Hope

Isaiah envisions an age when “Your gates will always stand open; they will never be shut day or night” (Isaiah 60:11), anticipating Revelation’s portrait of the New Jerusalem whose gates of pearl are never closed (Revelation 21:25). Jesus fulfills the logic of the gate by declaring, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved” (John 10:9). His promise that “the gates of Hades will not prevail” (Matthew 16:18) reasserts covenant victory first voiced to Abraham.

Moral and Didactic Applications

Gates symbolize thresholds of the heart and community. Wisdom cries “beside the gates at the entrance of the city” (Proverbs 1:21), positioning moral choice where public life begins. Believers are therefore exhorted to establish justice, guard purity, and welcome the righteous at their metaphorical gates.

Representative Categories and Verses

1. City Gates: Joshua 2:5; Judges 16:3; 2 Samuel 18:24.
2. Tribal or Village Gates: Deuteronomy 22:15; 1 Kings 17:10.
3. Temple Gates: 2 Kings 11:6; Psalm 118:20; Ezekiel 44:1-3.
4. National Deliverance: Psalm 107:16; Isaiah 45:1-2.
5. Cosmic Gates: Job 38:17; Psalm 24:7-10.

Summary for Ministry

Shaʿar threads practical governance, communal integrity, and eschatological glory into one tapestry. Faithful leaders administer justice at the gate; worshipers enter God’s presence through consecrated gates; and the redeemed anticipate everlasting gates that never close. Teaching and preaching on this term invites the Church to steward every threshold—personal, congregational, and societal—for the honor of the One who is both Gatekeeper and Gate.

בְּשַֽׁעֲרֵ֥י בְּשַֽׁעֲרֵיכֶ֔ם בְּשַֽׁעַר־ בְּשַׁ֖עַר בְּשַׁ֙עַר֙ בְּשַׁ֣עַר בְּשַׁ֤עַר בְּשַׁ֥עַר בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֖י בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֛י בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֣י בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֥י בְּשַׁעֲרֵיכֶֽם׃ בְשַֽׁעַר־ בְשַׁ֤עַר בְשַׁעֲרֵ֣י בִּ֝שְׁעָרַ֗יִךְ בִּשְׁעָרֶ֑יךָ בִּשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ בִּשְׁעָרֶ֖יךָ בִּשְׁעָרֶ֗יהָ בִּשְׁעָרֶ֗יךָ בִּשְׁעָרֶ֜יךָ בִּשְׁעָרֶֽ֔יךָ בִּשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃ בִּשְׁעָרַ֔יִךְ בִשְׁעָרֶ֖יךָ בַ֝שַּׁ֗עַר בַּ֝שַּׁ֗עַר בַּשְּׁעָרִ֑ים בַּשְּׁעָרִ֔ים בַּשְּׁעָרִ֣ים בַּשְּׁעָרִ֥ים בַּשַּׁ֔עַר בַּשַּׁ֖עַר בַּשַּׁ֛עַר בַּשַּׁ֥עַר בַּשָּֽׁעַר׃ בַּשָּׁ֑עַר בַשְּׁעָרִ֣ים בַשְּׁעָרִֽים׃ בַשַּׁ֖עַר בַשָּֽׁעַר׃ בַשָּׁ֑עַר בשער בשער־ בשער׃ בשערי בשעריה בשעריך בשעריך׃ בשעריכם בשעריכם׃ בשערים בשערים׃ הַ֠שַּׁעַר הַשְּׁעָרִ֑ים הַשְּׁעָרִ֔ים הַשְּׁעָרִ֖ים הַשְּׁעָרִ֗ים הַשְּׁעָרִ֛ים הַשְּׁעָרִ֧ים הַשְּׁעָרִֽים׃ הַשַּׁ֔עַר הַשַּׁ֖עַר הַשַּׁ֗עַר הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ הַשַּׁ֛עַר הַשַּׁ֜עְרָה הַשַּׁ֜עַר הַשַּׁ֣עַר הַשַּׁ֥עַר הַשַּׁ֨עַר הַשַּׁעַר֒ הַשַּׁעַר֮ הַשָּֽׁעְרָה׃ הַשָּֽׁעַר׃ הַשָּׁ֑עַר השער השער׃ השערה השערה׃ השערים השערים׃ וְהַשַּׁ֗עַר וְהַשַּׁ֣עַר וְהַשַּׁ֥עַר וְשַׁ֙עַר֙ וְשַׁ֛עַר וְשַׁ֨עַר וְשַׁעֲרֵ֖י וְשַׁעֲרֵ֣י וָשָֽׁעַר׃ וָשָׁ֑עַר וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃ וּלְשַׁ֨עַר וּמִשַּׁ֣עַר וּשְׁעָרִ֖ים וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ וּשְׁעָרֶ֥יהָ וּשְׁעָרַ֖יִךְ ובשעריך׃ והשער ולשער ומשער ושער ושער׃ ושערי ושעריה ושעריך ושערים לְמִשַּׁ֣עַר לְשַֽׁעַר־ לְשַׁ֖עַר לְשַׁ֣עַר לְשַׁ֥עַר לְשַׁעֲרֵ֥י לַשְּׁעָרִ֖ים לַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ לַשַּׁ֨עַר לַשָּֽׁעַר׃ לָשַׁ֙עַר֙ למשער לשער לשער־ לשער׃ לשערי לשערים מִשַּׁ֛עַר מִשַּׁ֣עַר מִשַּׁ֤עַר מִשַּׁ֥עֲרֵי מִשַּׁ֧עַר משער משערי שְׁעָרִ֑ים שְׁעָרִ֔ים שְׁעָרִ֥ים שְׁעָרִ֨ים ׀ שְׁעָרֶ֑יךָ שְׁעָרֶ֔יהָ שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ שְׁעָרֶ֖יךָ שְׁעָרֶ֗יךָ שְׁעָרֶ֙יהָ֙ שְׁעָרֶ֙יךָ֙ שְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃ שְׁעָרַ֧יִךְ שְׁעָרָ֑יִךְ שְׁעָרָ֑יו שְׁעָרָ֨יו ׀ שַֽׁעֲרֵיהֶ֖ם שַֽׁעַר־ שַׁ֔עַר שַׁ֕עַר שַׁ֖עַר שַׁ֙עַר֙ שַׁ֜עַר שַׁ֣עֲרֵיהֶ֔ם שַׁ֣עַר שַׁ֣עַר ׀ שַׁ֤עַר שַׁ֥עֲרֵי שַׁ֥עַר שַׁ֧עַר שַׁ֨עַר שַׁעֲרֵ֖י שַׁעֲרֵ֣י שַׁעֲרֵ֤י שַׁעֲרֵ֥י שַׁעֲרֵ֨י שַׁעֲרֵי֙ שַׁעֲרֵי־ שָֽׁעְרָה׃ שָֽׁעַר׃ שָׁ֑עַר שְׁעָרָ֗יו שער שער־ שער׃ שערה׃ שערי שערי־ שעריה שעריהם שעריו שעריך שעריך׃ שערים baš·ša·‘ar baš·šā·‘ar ḇaš·ša·‘ar ḇaš·šā·‘ar baš·šə·‘ā·rîm ḇaš·šə·‘ā·rîm bashShaar bashsheaRim bašša‘ar baššā‘ar ḇašša‘ar ḇaššā‘ar baššə‘ārîm ḇaššə‘ārîm bə·ša·‘ă·rê ḇə·ša·‘ă·rê bə·ša·‘ă·rê·ḵem bə·ša·‘ar ḇə·ša·‘ar bə·ša·‘ar- ḇə·ša·‘ar- bəša‘ar ḇəša‘ar bəša‘ar- ḇəša‘ar- bəša‘ărê ḇəša‘ărê bəša‘ărêḵem beshaar beshaaRei beshaareiChem biš‘ārayiḵ biš‘ārehā biš‘āreḵā ḇiš‘āreḵā biš·‘ā·ra·yiḵ biš·‘ā·re·hā biš·‘ā·re·ḵā ḇiš·‘ā·re·ḵā bishaRayich bishaReicha bishaReiha haš·ša‘·rāh haš·ša·‘ar haš·šā·‘ar haš·šā·‘ə·rāh haš·šə·‘ā·rîm hashShaar hashShaerah hashSharah hashsheaRim hašša‘ar haššā‘ar haššā‘ərāh hašša‘rāh haššə‘ārîm lā·ša·‘ar laš·ša·‘ar laš·šā·‘ar laš·šə·‘ā·rîm lāša‘ar laShaar lashShaar lashsheaRim lašša‘ar laššā‘ar laššə‘ārîm lə·miš·ša·‘ar lə·ša·‘ă·rê lə·ša·‘ar lə·ša·‘ar- lemishShaar ləmišša‘ar ləša‘ar ləša‘ar- ləša‘ărê leShaar leshaaRei miš·ša·‘ă·rê miš·ša·‘ar mishShaar mishShaarei mišša‘ar mišša‘ărê ša‘ar šā‘ar ša‘ar- ša‘ărê ša‘ărê- ša‘ărêhem šā‘ərāh ša·‘ă·rê ša·‘ă·rê- ša·‘ă·rê·hem ša·‘ar šā·‘ar ša·‘ar- šā·‘ə·rāh šə‘ārāw šə‘ārayiḵ šə‘ārāyiḵ šə‘ārehā šə‘āreḵā šə‘ārîm šə·‘ā·ra·yiḵ šə·‘ā·rā·yiḵ šə·‘ā·rāw šə·‘ā·re·hā šə·‘ā·re·ḵā šə·‘ā·rîm Shaar shaaRei shaareiHem Shaerah sheaRav sheaRayich sheaReicha sheaReiha sheaRim ū·ḇiš·‘ā·re·ḵā ū·lə·ša·‘ar ū·miš·ša·‘ar ū·šə·‘ā·ra·yiḵ ū·šə·‘ā·re·hā ū·šə·‘ā·rîm ūḇiš‘āreḵā ūləša‘ar uleShaar umishShaar ūmišša‘ar ūšə‘ārayiḵ ūšə‘ārehā ūšə‘ārîm usheaRayich usheaReiha usheaRim uvishaReicha vaShaar vashShaar vashsheaRim vehashShaar veShaar veshaaRei vishaReicha wā·šā·‘ar wāšā‘ar wə·haš·ša·‘ar wə·ša·‘ă·rê wə·ša·‘ar wəhašša‘ar wəša‘ar wəša‘ărêInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts