Matthew 27 33

Matthew 27:33 kjv

And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

Matthew 27:33 nkjv

And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull,

Matthew 27:33 niv

They came to a place called Golgotha (which means "the place of the skull").

Matthew 27:33 esv

And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull),

Matthew 27:33 nlt

And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means "Place of the Skull").

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 33 Meaning

This verse precisely identifies the location where Jesus was brought to be crucified, a place known as Golgotha. It signifies the point of arrival for the culmination of the legal process and the beginning of the execution. The name "Golgotha," meaning "place of a skull," underscores the grim nature of the site, marking it as a public execution ground where condemned criminals met their end. It denotes a place of death, shame, and public spectacle, preparing the reader for the sacrificial event that follows.

Matthew 27 33 Context

Matthew 27:33 falls within the passion narrative, specifically detailing Jesus' journey to the place of execution. Prior to this verse, Jesus has been arrested, falsely accused, tried before the Sanhedrin and Pilate, scourged, mocked by soldiers, and stripped of His clothing. Pilate has condemned Him to death by crucifixion, swayed by the demands of the crowd. Simon of Cyrene has just been compelled to carry Jesus' cross. This verse marks the physical arrival at the site where the central act of the atonement is to unfold. The Jewish leadership pushed for Jesus' death, and the Romans carried out the punishment. The location, Golgotha, emphasizes the public, humiliating, and utterly complete nature of the Roman execution, a brutal end meant to serve as a deterrent.

Matthew 27 33 Word analysis

• And when they were come: (Greek: Kai elthontes, καὶ ἐλθόντες). The phrase denotes an arrival after a journey. It is simple yet emphasizes the culmination of the procession to the execution site. The subject "they" implicitly refers to the Roman soldiers leading Jesus, Simon of Cyrene, and potentially other criminals and a following crowd.
• unto a place: (Greek: eis topon, εἰς τόπον). "A place" signifies a designated location, rather than a random spot. In biblical narratives, specific places often carry profound symbolic or theological weight, becoming markers in redemptive history (e.g., Mount Sinai, Bethany, Bethlehem).
• called Golgotha: (Greek: legomenon Golgotha, λεγόμενον Γολγοθά). "Called" indicates a common, known name for the site. Golgotha is a transliteration of an Aramaic word (Gûlgaltâ), not a Greek one, reinforcing the local Palestinian context. Its immediate and widely understood meaning points to the site's grim purpose.
• which is: (Greek: hotis estin, ὅ ἐστιν). A clarifying phrase provided by the Gospel writer, ensuring Gentile readers or those unfamiliar with Aramaic understand the name's significance. It's a standard literary device for explaining foreign terms.
• the place of a skull: (Greek: topos Kraniou, τόπος Κρανίου). This is the Greek translation of "Golgotha."
  • Skull: The "skull" reference likely points to several possibilities:
    1. Topography: The hill or rock formation may have visually resembled a skull. Ancient sites often acquired names from their natural features.
    2. Execution Ground: It was a public execution site where bodies were exposed, and bones/skulls might have been left unburied or re-buried nearby, giving the place its grim name. This association makes it a place of death, defilement, and public shame.
    3. Symbolism of Death: The skull universally symbolizes death. Being executed at "The Place of a Skull" underscores the reality of Jesus' human death. This grim context powerfully contrasts with His subsequent resurrection.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha: This whole phrase describes the physical arrival at the dreaded execution site. It marks the transition from the procession through the city streets (following the condemnation) to the very edge of Jesus’ life on earth. The journey was one of humiliation, suffering, and public display, culminating at a spot infamous for its brutal purpose.
• Golgotha, which is the place of a skull: This part is an immediate interpretation and emphasizes the morbid character of the location. The Aramaic name (Golgotha) followed by its Greek translation highlights its common recognition and the chilling reality it conveys. It is not just any hill but the skull hill, inherently linked to death and judgment, foreshadowing the ultimate conquest over death that will happen there.

Matthew 27 33 Bonus section

The exact location of Golgotha is not definitively known today, but it was generally accepted to be outside the main gate of Jerusalem (Jn 19:20), fulfilling the pattern of ancient sacrificial practices and also prophecies. Two main sites are traditionally proposed: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (inside modern Jerusalem's Old City walls, but outside ancient Jerusalem's walls at the time of Jesus) and the "Garden Tomb" site, which features a skull-like rock formation. The significance of the name "skull" also carries ancient traditions that Adam's skull was buried there, implying that the "first Adam's" curse would be undone where the "last Adam" (1 Cor 15:45) defeated sin and death. Regardless of the precise topography or apocryphal legends, the name "Golgotha" served to immediately inform the original audience of the gruesome and public nature of the execution site. The vivid imagery prepares the reader for the central act of the Gospel narrative: the death of Jesus Christ for the redemption of humanity.

Matthew 27 33 Commentary

Matthew 27:33 brings us to the stark reality of Jesus' crucifixion. Golgotha, the "Place of a Skull," was a common execution site outside the city walls of Jerusalem. Its name immediately conveys its purpose as a grim, defiled place of death, reflecting the Roman method of crucifixion as a brutal public spectacle for condemned criminals. This location carried significant theological weight: much like the sin offerings in the Old Testament were taken outside the camp (Lev 16:27, Heb 13:11-12), Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice, was led outside the city. He endured the ultimate shame and curse in a place associated with death and corruption (Dt 21:23). This desolate place becomes the focal point of God's redemptive plan, transforming the most ignominious execution into the most glorious victory over sin and death. The arrival at Golgotha signals the commencement of the profound atonement where Christ, as the Lamb of God, poured out His life for humanity's transgressions (Isa 53:5-12, Jn 1:29).