Bible Encyclopedias
Skull

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

skul ( גּלגּלת , gulgōleth ; κρανίον , kranı́on ): The Hebrew word, which is well known to Bible readers in its Aramaic-Greek form "Golgotha," expresses the more or less globular shape of the human skull, being derived from a root meaning "to roll." It is often translated in English Versions of the Bible by "head," "poll," etc. In the meaning "skull" it is found twice ( Judges 9:53; 2 Kings 9:35 ). In the New Testament the word is found only in connection with GOLGOTHA (which see), "the place of a skull" (Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:22; John 19:17 ), or "the skull" (Luke 23:33 ).