Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 27:33

"And they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull," — Matthew 27:33 (ASV)

Golgotha. This is the Hebrew word signifying the place of a skull. This is the word which in Luke is called Calvary. In Luke's original text, it is also a skull. The word calvary is a Latin word meaning skull, or place of skulls.

It is not known for certain why this name was given to this place. Some have supposed that it was because the mount resembled a human skull in shape. The most probable opinion, however, is that it was a place of execution where malefactors were beheaded or otherwise put to death, and their bones remained unburied or unburned.

Mount Calvary was a small eminence, usually supposed to have been on the northwest of Jerusalem, outside the walls of the city, but at a short distance. Jesus was put to death outside the city because capital punishments were not allowed within the walls (1 Kings 21:13).

This was a law among the Romans, as well as the Jews. He also died there because the bodies of the animals slain in sacrifice, as typical of him, were burned outside the camp. He also, as the antitype, suffered outside the gate (Hebrews 13:11–12). The place that is shown as Calvary today is within the city, and must also have been within the ancient walls. Consequently, there is no reason to suppose that it is the place where the Saviour was put to death.