The Wooden Pole
Then two robbers were executed on stakes with him, one on the right and one on the left.
The verb σταυροῦνται (stauroō) is rendered "executed on stakes," as the Pioneer Translation consistently treats the stauros family, reflecting the primary classical meaning of the root as an upright stake rather than a cross. Λῃσταί is translated "robbers" (violent thieves) rather than the softer "criminals" or "thieves," preserving the word's force. The present tense is used narratively in the Greek (historic present), rendered naturally in English as past tense.
Berean Standard Bible
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38Two robbers were σταυρός · staurosPrimary classical Greek meaning: upright stake or pole. Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon, Oxford. with Him, one on His right and the other on His left.
King James Version
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38Then were there two thieves σταυρός · staurosPrimary classical Greek meaning: upright stake or pole. Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon, Oxford. with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
Goodspeed New Testament
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38There were two robbers crucified with him at the time, one at his right and one at his left.
Translation for Translators
T4T was designed as a tool for Bible translators, not as a devotional text. It makes implicit meaning explicit and flags figurative language with abbreviations. Gold [brackets] indicate translation notes. ◄Triangles► mark alternative renderings.Read more about how to read T4T →BSB and T4T shown with Greek annotations — · Why we show the Greek →
38Two bandits were also nailed {They also nailed two bandits} on σταυρός · staurosPrimary classical Greek meaning: upright stake or pole. Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon, Oxford.. One was nailed to a σταυρός · staurosPrimary classical Greek meaning: upright stake or pole. Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon, Oxford. on the right side of Jesus and one to a σταυρός · staurosPrimary classical Greek meaning: upright stake or pole. Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon, Oxford. on the left side.
Berean Standard Bible
Goodspeed New Testament
BSB and T4T shown with Greek annotations — · Why we show the Greek →
Two robbers were σταυρός · staurosPrimary classical Greek meaning: upright stake or pole. Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon, Oxford. with Him, one on His right and the other on His left.
There were two robbers crucified with him at the time, one at his right and one at his left.
Berean Standard Bible
Goodspeed New Testament
King James Version
BSB and T4T shown with Greek annotations — · Why we show the Greek →
Two robbers were σταυρός · staurosPrimary classical Greek meaning: upright stake or pole. Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon, Oxford. with Him, one on His right and the other on His left.
There were two robbers crucified with him at the time, one at his right and one at his left.
Then were there two thieves σταυρός · staurosPrimary classical Greek meaning: upright stake or pole. Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon, Oxford. with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
SBL
38
Τότε then τότε tóte from (the neuter of) G3588 (ὁ) and G3753 (ὅτε); the when, i.e. at the time that (of the past or future, also in consecut σταυροῦνται stauros (execute on a stake) σταυρόω stauróō from G4716 (σταυρός); to impale on the stauros (stake); figuratively, to extinguish (subdue) passion or selfishness stauros (execute on a stake) σὺν with σύν sýn a primary preposition denoting union; with or together (but much closer than G3326 (μετά) or G3844 (παρά)), i.e. by asso αὐτῷ he αὐτός autós from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of G109 (ἀήρ) through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive δύο two δύο dýo a primary numeral; two both, twain, two λῃσταί robber λῃστής lēistḗs from (to plunder); a brigand robber, thief , εἷς into εἰς eis a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose ( ἐκ from out ἐκ ek a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; δεξιῶν on the right hand δεξιός dexiós from G1209 (δέχομαι); the right side or (feminine) hand (as that which usually takes) right (hand, side) καὶ and καί kaí apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too εἷς into εἰς eis a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose ( ἐξ from out ἐκ ek a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; εὐωνύμων on the left hand side εὐώνυμος euṓnymos from G2095 (εὖ) and G3686 (ὄνομα); properly, well-named (good-omened), i.e. the left (which was the lucky side among the .
Two robbers were stauros-ed (executed on a stake) with Him, one on His right and the other on His left.
Where the New Testament uses stauros, this site shows the Greek word alongside its primary classical meaning in brackets. Stauros meant stake or upright stake in classical Greek — the Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon (Oxford University Press) lists this as its first definition, citing Homer and Herodotus. The word itself does not specify material; wood is implied by the context of the era, not encoded in the Greek term.
Where the New Testament uses xylon, this site shows the Greek word alongside its meaning of tree or wood — xylon does specify material, and is already translated as tree by the NIV, ESV, and KJV in Acts 5:30, Galatians 3:13, and 1 Peter 2:24.
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Sources
SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)License
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
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