There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west.

And on the east were three doors; and on the north three doors; and on the south three doors; and on the west three doors.

There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

On the east three gates - The city was square Revelation 21:16, and the same number of gates is assigned to each quarter. There does not appear to be any special significancy in this fact, unless it be to denote that there is access to this city from all quarters of the world, and that they who dwell there will have come from each of the great divisions of the earth - that is, from every land,

On the east three gates - The city is here represented as standing to the four cardinal points of heaven, and presenting one side to each of these points.

On the east three gates,.... On which were written the names of Joseph, Benjamin, and Daniel:
on the north three gates; on which were written the names of Reuben, Judah, and Levi:
on the south three gates; on which were written the names of Simeon, Issachar, and Zabulon:
and on the west three gates; on which were written the names of Gad, Asher, and Naphtali; see Ezekiel 48:31. This denotes the collection of the saints from all parts of the world, who shall come from east, west, north, and south, and sit down in the kingdom of God; and therefore here are gates at every point to enter in at; see Isaiah 43:5.

On the north . . . on the south--A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic read, "And on the north and on the south." In Ezekiel, Joseph, Benjamin, Daniel (for which Manasseh is substituted in Revelation 7:6), are on the east (Ezekiel 48:32); Reuben, Judah, Levi, are on the north (Ezekiel 48:31); Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, on the south (Ezekiel 48:33); Gad, Asher, Naphtali, on the west (Ezekiel 48:34). In Numbers, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun are on the east (Numbers 2:3, Numbers 2:5, Numbers 2:7). Reuben, Simeon, Gad, on the south (Numbers 2:10, Numbers 2:12, Numbers 2:14). Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, on the west (Numbers 2:18, Numbers 2:20, Numbers 2:22). Daniel, Asher, Naphtali, on the north (Numbers 2:25, Numbers 2:27, Numbers 2:29).