Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just a general plea to worship; it's a specific request for the gates of the Temple to be opened, implying a triumphant procession arriving at the entrance. The gates are called "gates of righteousness" not just because only the righteous may enter, but because they lead to God, the source of all righteousness, where justice and salvation are enacted.
Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse marks the culmination of a triumphant procession approaching the Temple. After recounting God's powerful deliverance and their own survival against overwhelming odds, the psalmist calls for the gates of the sanctuary to be opened. This isn't just a casual request; it's a demand for entry into God's holy presence, where righteous worship and thanks can be offered for the salvation received.
Why 'gates of righteousness'? What does this phrase tell us about who gets to enter God's presence?
When the psalmist asks to enter the 'gates of righteousness,' he's not just talking about any old door. These gates lead to God's dwelling place, the Temple.
Exclusive Entry
What's the immediate goal after passing through these gates? It's simple, yet profound.
The psalmist's ultimate aim in asking for entrance through the 'gates of righteousness' is clear: 'that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.' This isn't just a casual 'thanks'; it's a specific act of worship.
Public Thanksgiving
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
šaʿar · Hebrew Noun
Entrances to a city or the temple. They symbolize access to the presence of God, community, or a state of safety and favor.
ṣedeq · Hebrew Noun
Living in accordance with God's moral standards and covenant. It denotes a state of being "right" before God through obedience and faith, qualifying one for fellowship with Him.
yādâ · Hebrew Verb
The act of expressing gratitude and adoration to God for His character and His specific acts of grace toward the individual or community.
The 'gates of righteousness' refer to the Temple in Jerusalem, the designated place where God's presence dwelled and where His people, the righteous, could approach Him. The psalm likely echoes a triumphal procession celebrating deliverance and restoration, calling for the gates to be opened for public thanksgiving.
c. 1047 BC
David Captures Jerusalem
King David successfully conquered Jerusalem from the Jebusites, establishing it as the capital of Israel. This event allowed for the centralization of worship.
c. 1046 BC
Ark of the Covenant Brought to Jerusalem
Following the capture of Jerusalem, David brought the Ark of the Covenant into the city with great celebration. This marked a significant step in establishing Jerusalem as the religious center.
c. 960 BC
Temple Construction Begins
King Solomon, David's son, began the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem, a permanent and magnificent sanctuary for God's presence and worship.
c. 950 BC
Temple Dedicated
Solomon dedicated the completed Temple with elaborate ceremonies and sacrifices. It became the focal point for Israelite worship, including processions and praises.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled much of the population. This event brought a devastating end to centralized worship.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile and Temple Rebuilding
Following Cyrus the Great's decree, many Judeans returned from Babylonian exile and began rebuilding the Temple. This marked a return to worship, albeit in a less grand structure than before.
Unknown (Likely Post-Exilic)— this verse
Processional Entry into Rebuilt Temple
Psalm 118, likely sung during joyous occasions like the dedication of the Second Temple or other festivals, pictures a triumphal procession approaching the Temple gates. The psalmist cries out to enter and offer praise.
This passage echoes the cry to open the 'everlasting doors,' directly paralleling the request in Psalm 118:19 and highlighting the anticipation of a divine entrance for God's people.
Isaiah 26:1-2This prophecy describes a city with 'righteous gates' that remain open for a nation that keeps righteousness, providing a conceptual link to the 'gates of righteousness' and the idea of a righteous people entering God's presence.
John 10:9Jesus proclaims Himself as the 'door,' offering salvation and access to God, which serves as a profound fulfillment of the desire expressed in Psalm 118:19 to enter through righteous gates to praise the Lord.
Hebrews 10:19-22This New Testament passage explains that through Jesus' sacrifice, believers have confidence to enter the 'heavenly places' and draw near to God with a sincere heart, fulfilling the spirit of entering God's presence for praise.
pulpitPsalms 118:19: "Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:"
Verse 19. - Open to me the gates of righteousness. The great gate of the temple being now reached, admission to the interior is requested. The gates are called "the gates of righteousness," (1) as gates which none but the righteous ought to enter (see the next verse); and (2) as gates through which access is gained to the sanctuary of him who alone is truly righteous, and the source of all r…
clarkePsalms 118:19: "Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:"
Open to me the gates - Throw open the doors of the temple, that I may enter and perform my vows unto the Lord.
This verse isn't just a general plea to worship; it's a specific request for the gates of the Temple to be opened, implying a triumphant procession arriving at the entrance. The gates are called "gates of righteousness" not just because only the righteous may enter, but because they lead to God, the source of all righteousness, where justice and salvation are enacted.
This verse marks the culmination of a triumphant procession approaching the Temple. After recounting God's powerful deliverance and their own survival against overwhelming odds, the psalmist calls for the gates of the sanctuary to be opened. This isn't just a casual request; it's a demand for entry into God's holy presence, where righteous worship and thanks can be offered for the salvation received.
This verse marks the culmination of a triumphant procession approaching the Temple. After recounting God's powerful deliverance and their own survival against overwhelming odds, the psalmist calls for the gates of the sanctuary to be opened. This isn't just a casual request; it's a demand for entry into God's holy presence, where righteous worship and thanks can be offered for the salvation received.
"Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD." — This verse isn't just a general plea to worship; it's a specific request for the gates of the Temple to be opened, implying a triumphant procession arriving at the entrance. The gates are called "gat…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026