Lexical Summary kranion: Skull Original Word: κρανίον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Calvary, skull. Diminutive of a derivative of the base of keras; a skull ("cranium") -- Calvary, skull. see GREEK keras NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kara (the head) Definition a skull NASB Translation Skull (4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2898: κρανίονκρανίον, κρανίου, τό (diminutive of the noun κράνον (i. e. κάρα; Curtius, § 38)), a skull (Vulg.calvaria): Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:22; Luke 23:33; John 19:17; see Γολγοθᾶ. (Judges 9:53; 2 Kings 9:35; Homer, Iliad 8, 84; Pindar, Euripides, Plato, Lucian, Herodian) Topical Lexicon Word and Setting The Greek term κράνιον appears only in the crucifixion accounts, where each Evangelist identifies the execution site of Jesus Christ as “the place called the Skull” (Luke 23:33). The word is not used for anatomy elsewhere in the New Testament; it serves solely to translate the Aramaic “Golgotha.” In Latin this becomes Calvaria, giving English “Calvary.” Occurrences • Matthew 27:33 – “And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull)….” Historical and Geographical Context First-century Jerusalem reserved an area outside the city wall for Roman executions. Archaeological data and literary witnesses show that such sites were intentionally public, situated near roads to maximize deterrence. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre encloses one traditional location; Gordon’s Calvary marks another. Whether the rocky outcrop resembled a skull, contained abandoned skulls from previous executions, or derived its name from local memory, the grim title highlighted the reality of death that Rome inflicted on rebels and criminals. Old Testament Foreshadowings Genesis 22 situates the binding of Isaac on Mount Moriah, later the temple mount, linking sacrifice and this region. Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 prophetically depict the suffering Servant crucified among transgressors. The physical “place of the Skull” becomes the geographic convergence of these promises: the Seed would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15) at the very spot named for a head. Theological Significance 1. Victory in the realm of death: The name itself underscores that Christ entered humanity’s final stronghold—death—and triumphed (Hebrews 2:14). Typological Connections • The Passover lamb was slain “outside the camp” (Exodus 12; Numbers 15), anticipating the Messiah who “suffered outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:12-13). Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Preaching: Emphasize that salvation was accomplished in a real place; the gospel is grounded in datable events. Cultural and Linguistic Legacy Christian art often depicts a skull beneath the cross, reflecting early tradition that Adam’s skull lay beneath Golgotha, symbolizing the second Adam redeeming the first. Hymnody—“There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins”—uses “Calvary” as shorthand for the entire passion narrative. The word shapes place names, missions, and churches worldwide, continually pointing worshipers to the decisive act of divine love. Summary κράνιον is a small word with an outsized role: by designating the exact place where Jesus was lifted up, it turns the darkest hill into the brightest beacon of grace. Whenever believers speak of Calvary, they invoke the Skull—a reminder that Christ entered the domain of death and emerged victorious for all who trust in Him. Forms and Transliterations Κρανιον Κρανίον Κρανιου Κρανίου Kranion Kraníon Kraniou KraníouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 27:33 N-GNSGRK: ὅ ἐστιν Κρανίου Τόπος λεγόμενος NAS: means Place of a Skull, KJV: to say, a place of a skull, INT: which is of a skull place called Mark 15:22 N-GNS Luke 23:33 N-ANS John 19:17 N-GNS Strong's Greek 2898 |
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