Mattheüs 27:33

33 En gekomen zijnde tot de plaats, genaamd Golgotha, welke is gezegd Hoofdschedelplaats,

Mattheüs 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.

Mattheüs 27:33 In-Context

31 En toen zij Hem bespot hadden, deden zij Hem den mantel af, en deden Hem Zijn klederen aan, en leidden Hem heen om te kruisigen.

32 En uitgaande, vonden zij een man van Cyrene, met name Simon; deze dwongen zij, dat hij Zijn kruis droeg.

33 En gekomen zijnde tot de plaats, genaamd Golgotha, welke is gezegd Hoofdschedelplaats,

34 Gaven zij Hem te drinken edik met gal gemengd; en als Hij dien gesmaakt had, wilde Hij niet drinken.

35 Toen zij nu Hem gekruisigd hadden, verdeelden zij Zijn klederen, het lot werpende; opdat vervuld zou worden, hetgeen gezegd is door den profeet: Zij hebben Mijn klederen onder zich verdeeld, en hebben het lot over Mijn kleding geworpen.