Matthew 27:33-38

27:33 They ¹  came to a place called Golgotha ²  (which means “Place of the Skull”) ³  27:34 and offered Jesus ⁴  wine mixed with gall to drink. ⁵  But after tasting it, he would not drink it. 27:35 When ⁶  they had crucified ⁷  him, they divided his clothes by throwing dice. ⁸  27:36 Then they sat down and kept guard over him there. 27:37 Above ⁹  his head they put the charge against him, ¹⁰  which read: ¹¹  “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” 27:38 Then two outlaws were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

[27:33]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:33]  ² tn This is an Aramaic name; see John 19:17.

[27:33]  ³ sn A place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). This location is north and just outside of Jerusalem. The hill on which it is located protruded much like a skull, giving the place its name. The Latin word for the Greek term κρανίον (kranion) is calvaria, from which the English word “Calvary” is derived (cf. Luke 23:33 in the KJV).

[27:34]  ⁴ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[27:34]  ⁵ sn It is difficult to say for certain who gave Jesus this drink of wine mixed with gall (e.g., the executioner, or perhaps women from Jerusalem). In any case, whoever gave it to him most likely did so in order to relieve his pain, but Jesus was unwilling to take it.

[27:35]  ⁷ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:35]  ⁸ sn See the note on crucified in 20:19.

[27:35]  ⁹ tn Grk “by throwing the lot” (probably by using marked pebbles or broken pieces of pottery). A modern equivalent, “throwing dice,” was chosen here because of its association with gambling. According to L&N 6.219 a term for “dice” is particularly appropriate.

[27:37]  ¹⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:37]  ¹¹ sn Mention of the inscription is an important detail, because the inscription would normally give the reason for the execution. It shows that Jesus was executed for claiming to be a king. It was also probably written with irony from the executioners’ point of view.

[27:37]  ¹² tn Grk “was written.”