John Gill 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)

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 your 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 your 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.