Matteo 27:33

33 E, venuti nel luogo detto Golgota, che vuol dire: Il luogo del teschio;

Matteo 27:33 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 27:33

And when they were come to a place called Golgotha
The true pronunciation is "Golgoltha", and so it is read in Munster's Hebrew Gospel. It is a Syriac word, in which language letters are often left out: in the Syriac version of this place, the first "l" is left out, and the latter retained, and it is read "Gogoltha": and so, in the Persic, "Gagulta"; and in the Arabic, "Gagalut". The Ethiopic version reads it, "Golgotha"; and so, Dr. Lightfoot observes, it is read by the Samaritan interpreter of the first chapter of Numbers:

that is to say, a place of a skull:
some say Adam's skull was found here, and from thence the place had its name; this is an ancient tradition, but without foundation ^F13: it seems to be so called, because it was the place where malefactors were executed, and afterwards buried; whose bones and skulls in process of time might be dug up, and some of them might lie scattered about in this place: for, one that was executed as a malefactor ^F14,

``they did not bury him in the sepulchres of his ancestors; but there were two places of burial appointed by the sanhedrim; one for those that were stoned, and for those that were burnt; and another for those that were killed with the sword, and for those that were strangled; and when their flesh was consumed, they gathered the bones, and buried them in their place;''

i.e. in the sepulchres of their ancestors. This place was as infamous as our Tyburn, and to be crucified at "Golgotha", was as ignominious as to be hanged at Tyburn; which shows what shame and disgrace our Lord was brought, and what he condescended to bear on our account.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 6. sect. 4. 5.
F14 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 43. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Sauhedrin, c. 13. sect. 2, 3.

Matteo 27:33 In-Context

31 E, dopo che l’ebbero schernito, lo spogliarono di quel saio, e lo rivestirono de’ suoi vestimenti; poi lo menarono a crocifiggere.

32 ORA, uscendo, trovarono un Cireneo, chiamato per nome Simone, il quale angariarono a portar la croce di Gesù.

33 E, venuti nel luogo detto Golgota, che vuol dire: Il luogo del teschio;

34 gli diedero a bere dell’aceto mescolato con fiele; ma egli avendolo gustato, non volle berne.

35 Poi, avendolo crocifisso, spartirono i suoi vestimenti, tirando la sorte; acciocchè fosse adempiuto ciò che fu detto dal profeta: Hanno spartiti fra loro i miei vestimenti, ed hanno tratta la sorte sopra la mia veste.