And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull),
English Standard Version (ESV)
The name "Golgotha," meaning "Place of a Skull," likely refers not to a pile of skulls from executions, but to the rounded, bare shape of the hill itself, much like our modern place names based on physical features. This subtle detail highlights how ancient names often drew from the natural landscape, even for places associated with such grim events.
And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull),
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus and his executioners have arrived at the designated spot outside the city walls where criminals were put to death, a place known by the chilling name Golgotha, meaning "Place of a Skull." This grim location, possibly named for its shape or the grim remnants of past executions, is where Jesus will face his crucifixion. The soldiers prepare for the ordeal, and a potent, bitter drink is offered to Jesus before the nailing begins.
Why would the place of Jesus' crucifixion be called the 'Place of a Skull'? This name carries profound weight, shaping how we understand his suffering.
The Aramaic word 'Golgotha' and its Hebrew equivalent 'Gulgoleth' both translate to 'skull.' While the exact reason for the name is debated, the most compelling interpretations point to its grim history.
Two Main Ideas:
Where was Golgotha? Understanding its location relative to the city reveals crucial theological insights about Jesus' sacrifice.
The New Testament consistently places Jesus' crucifixion outside the city walls. This wasn't just a random choice; it was a deliberate fulfillment of Old Testament law and symbolism.
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Understand the original words
Golgotha · Aramaic/Greek Proper Noun
The Aramaic name for the site of Jesus' execution, meaning 'skull,' likely referring to the shape of the landscape where public executions took place.
c. 400 BC
Sanhedrin Establishes Execution Sites
The Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin, designates specific areas outside the city for executions, including sites for those stoned or otherwise put to death.
c. 1st century AD— this verse
Golgotha Used as Execution Site
The place known as Golgotha, likely a rounded hill or elevated area outside Jerusalem's walls, becomes known as a site for public executions of criminals.
c. AD 30
Jesus Crucified at Golgotha
Jesus is led outside the city walls to Golgotha, the 'Place of a Skull,' for his crucifixion, fulfilling prophecies and enduring immense shame.
c. AD 30
Jesus Buried in Nearby Garden Tomb
Following his execution, Jesus' body is taken down and placed in a new tomb located in a garden near Golgotha, belonging to Joseph of Arimathea.
c. 4th century AD
Tradition Identifies Golgotha
Later traditions begin to associate Golgotha with the site of Jesus' crucifixion and burial, leading to the construction of churches in the area.
This passage mentions the bodies of fallen warriors being burned and then their bones being gathered and buried, suggesting a practice related to handling remains that could have led to places being named after skulls.
2 Kings 9:35This verse directly uses the word 'skull' in relation to Jezebel's remains being left unburied, highlighting the grim imagery associated with the word and potential naming conventions for execution sites.
John 19:17This verse describes Jesus being led out to the 'place of a skull,' connecting it to the crucifixion location and reinforcing its significance as the site of suffering and death.
Hebrews 13:12This passage states that Jesus suffered outside the city gates, a location that aligns with Golgotha being an execution site outside Jerusalem's walls, as indicated by its name meaning 'Place of a Skull'.
bensonMatthew 27:33: "And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,"
Matthew 27:33-34 . And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha — A Syriac word which signifies a scull, or head. In Latin it is called Calvary. The place was so named, either because malefactors used to be executed there, or because the charnel-house or common repository for bones and sculls might have been there. Being upon an eminence, it seems to have been a proper spot of grou…
gillMatthew 27:33: "And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,"
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…
The name "Golgotha," meaning "Place of a Skull," likely refers not to a pile of skulls from executions, but to the rounded, bare shape of the hill itself, much like our modern place names based on physical features. This subtle detail highlights how ancient names often drew from the natural landscape, even for places associated with such grim events.
Jesus and his executioners have arrived at the designated spot outside the city walls where criminals were put to death, a place known by the chilling name Golgotha, meaning "Place of a Skull." This grim location, possibly named for its shape or the grim remnants of past executions, is where Jesus will face his crucifixion. The soldiers prepare for the ordeal, and a potent, bitter drink is offered to Jesus before the nailing begins.
Jesus and his executioners have arrived at the designated spot outside the city walls where criminals were put to death, a place known by the chilling name Golgotha, meaning "Place of a Skull." This grim location, possibly named for its shape or the grim remnants of past executions, is where Jesus will face his crucifixion. The soldiers prepare for the ordeal, and a potent, bitter drink is offered to Jesus before the nailing begins.
"And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull)," — The name "Golgotha," meaning "Place of a Skull," likely refers not to a pile of skulls from executions, but to the rounded, bare shape of the hill itself, much like our modern place names based on ph…
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Last reviewed October 2026