Luke 23:33
What does Luke 23:33 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 23:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 23:33 means
At the place called The skull, they crucify Jesus, placing Him between two criminals, one on His right and one on His left. This is the lowest humiliation and the height of Roman cruelty. Yet even in shame, His position among sinners is the place of His saving work. Lifted up on the cross, He bears the curse to bless the cursed. The setting underscores both the injustice of His death and the mercy He shows from the cross. The world’s judgment is to hang Him; God’s purpose is to redeem through that very act, turning a place of death into the fountain of life.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when they came unto the place which is called The skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when they came unto the place which is called The skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when they came to the place which is named Golgotha, they put him on the cross, and the evil-doers, one on the right side, and the other on the left.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and when they came to the place that is called Skull, there they crucified him and the evil-doers, one on the right hand and one on the left.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified him there: and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And when they came to the place which is called Skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, the other on the left.
Context
This central moment arrives with stark brevity: the crucifixion itself. Luke does not dwell on physical details but on words and responses around the cross. Immediately after, Jesus will pray for forgiveness for those who crucify Him, and soldiers will divide His garments by casting lots. Then the people will watch, rulers will scoff, and soldiers will mock. The inscription over His head will call Him King of the Jews, even as He hangs between criminals.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
- Mark 15:22
And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
- Psalms 22:16
For dogs have compassed me: A company of evil-doers have inclosed me; They pierced my hands and my feet.
- Luke 24:7
saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
- Mark 10:33
saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles:
- 1 Peter 2:24
who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.
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