The Sheep Gate was a gate in Jerusalem's wall, likely near the sheep market, that was rebuilt during Nehemiah's time (Neh. 3:1, 32; 12:39; Jhn.5.2).
The Sheep Gate was an important entrance in Jerusalem's walls, first mentioned in Nehemiah's account of the city's reconstruction. The high priest Eliashib and his fellow priests took responsibility for rebuilding this gate (Nehemiah 3:1), making it the first structure mentioned in Nehemiah's systematic description of the wall's reconstruction.
The gate marked a significant point in Jerusalem's defensive walls. It appears at both the beginning and end of Nehemiah's description of the wall repairs (Nehemiah 3:1, 32), suggesting it may have been a starting and ending point for the reconstruction project. During the dedication of the rebuilt walls, one of the thanksgiving processions passed through the Sheep Gate (Nehemiah 12:39).
In the New Testament, the gate is mentioned indirectly in connection with the Pool of Bethesda, which was located near the Sheep Gate (Jhn.5.2). This reference helps establish its location in the northeastern section of Jerusalem.
The gate probably derived its name from its use as an entrance point for sheep being brought to the nearby Temple for sacrifice, though this is not explicitly stated in Scripture.
Probably corresponds to the modern location near the Lion's Gate (also called St. Stephen's Gate) in Jerusalem's Old City walls.
Approximate location: 31.777, 35.235 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
One of the gates of Jerusalem mentioned by Nehemiah (3:1, 32; 12:39). It was in the eastern wall of the city.
SHEEP-GATE, an ancient gate of Jerusalem. Neh 3:1, Jud 1:32; Neh 12:39. Barclay concludes that it must have been near the temple, and between the tower of Meah and the Prison-gate. Compare Acts 3:32 with Acts 12:39; A.V. "prison-gate." Tradition identifies the Sheep-gate with Saint Stephen's gate, which leads to Gethsemane and Mount Olivet. Grove would place it near the Bab el-Kattanin.
SHEEP-GATE, an ancient gate of Jerusalem. Neh 3:1, Jud 1:32; Neh 12:39. Barclay concludes that it must have been near the temple, and between the tower of Meah and the Prison-gate. Compare Acts 3:32 with Acts 12:39; A.V. "prison-gate." Tradition identifies the Sheep-gate with Saint Stephen's gate, which leads to Gethsemane and Mount Olivet. Grove would place it near the Bab el-Kattanin.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
4 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H6629
At the Sheep Gate, Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding. They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated the wall.
And between the upper room above the corner and the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.
over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. And they stopped at the Gate of the Guard.
Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool with five covered colonnades, which in Hebrew is called Bethesda.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.