John 19 17

John 19:17 kjv

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

John 19:17 nkjv

And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,

John 19:17 niv

Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).

John 19:17 esv

and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.

John 19:17 nlt

Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha).

John 19 verses

John 19 17 Meaning

John 19:17 describes Jesus carrying his own cross to the site of his crucifixion, a place known both descriptively as "the place of a skull" and by its Aramaic name, Golgotha. This act underscores Jesus' active participation in his atoning sacrifice, beginning the final ascent to the cross where the divine plan for humanity's redemption would be fully realized through his suffering and death outside the city gates.

John 19 17 Context

John chapter 19 continues the narrative of Jesus' trial and sentencing by Pilate. After multiple attempts to release Jesus, Pilate, under pressure from the Jewish leaders, finally condemned him to be crucified (Jn 19:16). This verse immediately follows Pilate's pronouncement, depicting the initial step of the crucifixion process: Jesus bearing his own instrument of death. Historically, convicted criminals were often forced to carry the patibulum (the crossbar) to the execution site as a public spectacle, symbolizing their disgrace and the state's power. The "place of a skull" would have been a well-known, public execution site, typically located outside the city walls to avoid ceremonial defilement and to maximize public exposure. John's emphasis on Jesus bearing his own cross underscores the ignominy and the directness of his journey towards sacrifice.

John 19 17 Word analysis

• And he bearing (καὶ αὐτὸς βαστάζων - kai autos bastazōn): The phrase emphasizes Jesus' personal and active role. While other Gospels mention Simon of Cyrene later being compelled to carry the cross (Mt 27:32, Mk 15:21, Lk 23:26), John portrays Jesus initiating the burden-bearing, highlighting his conscious choice and strength even in his weakened state. Bastazōn means "carrying," implying effort and responsibility, not just light transport.
• his cross (τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ - ton stauron autou): This is not just a cross but his specific cross, the very instrument of his predetermined execution. In the Roman context, carrying the patibulum was a deep public humiliation, signaling the condemned's status as a criminal and serving as a deterrent. For Jesus, this act symbolically prefigured his bearing the sins of humanity.
• went forth (ἐξῆλθεν - exēlthen): Signifies a deliberate departure, typically implying movement out from a location. Here, from Pilate's courtyard, leading to the public procession out of the city. This aligns with Old Testament sacrificial practices where sin offerings were taken outside the camp (Lev 4:12, Heb 13:11-12).
• into a place called the place of a skull (εἰς τὸν λεγόμενον Κρανίου Τόπον - eis ton legomenon Kraniou Topon): A descriptive Greek phrase indicating the character of the site. A "place of a skull" might refer to its barren, rocky appearance resembling a skull, or as a place where bodies/skulls of executed criminals were left unburied. It signifies a place of death, exposure, and ultimate desecration in ancient thought.
• which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha (ὅ λέγεται Ἑβραϊστὶ Γολγοθᾶ - ho legetai Hebraisti Golgotha): John, writing likely for a diverse audience, explains the common Aramaic (which John refers to as Hebrew) name of the place, Gulgultā, meaning "skull." This translational clarification highlights the significance of the place's name, confirming its grim and public nature to readers less familiar with local Jerusalem place names. The exact location is subject to scholarly debate, but its character as an exposed, rock-strewn site outside the city is consistent.

John 19 17 Bonus section

The seemingly contradictory accounts regarding who carried the cross (Jesus in John vs. Simon in Synoptics) are generally understood not as discrepancies, but as complementary details, emphasizing different theological points. It is plausible that Jesus began carrying it but weakened, Simon was then compelled to take over, or John specifically focuses on Jesus' will and initiation of bearing the cross, irrespective of who finished the task. John often focuses on the divine sovereignty and internal disposition of Christ, presenting him as actively fulfilling his mission rather than passively being led. Furthermore, Golgotha's location outside the city was strategically chosen by the Romans for maximum public humiliation and as a warning, making it a very visible spectacle. Its name "skull" also carries connotations of utter defeat and desolation, making the subsequent victory of resurrection all the more powerful.

John 19 17 Commentary

John 19:17 offers a poignant, direct image of Jesus' willing submission to his divine mission. While the other Synoptic Gospels record Simon of Cyrene being compelled to carry the cross, John emphasizes Jesus' initial act of bearing it himself, portraying an active participation in his destiny. This is not mere physical movement; it is the Lamb of God voluntarily undertaking the weight of human sin symbolized by the cross. His journey "forth" from the city echoes the Old Testament principle of sin offerings being sacrificed "outside the camp," marking a ceremonial purification. The destination, Golgotha, "the place of a skull," grimly foreshadows death and a macabre scene, yet for Christians, it transforms into the pinnacle of redemption and triumph over sin and death. This concise verse encapsulates Jesus' final walk of obedience and the deliberate, sovereign nature of his sacrifice.