Bible Lexicons

Γαββαθα (Γαββαθα WH), ἡ, indeclinable, Gabbatha, Chaldean גַּבְּתָא (Hebrew גַּב, the back); hence, a raised place, an elevation, (cf. C. F. A. Fritzsche, Ueber die Verdienste Tholucks as above with, p. 102f; Delitzsch in the Zeitschr. f. luth. Theol. for 1876, p. 605; (Wünsche, Neue Beitäge as above with p. 560); but see the somewhat different opinion of Keim, Jesu von Nazara, iii. 365): John 19:13, where is added the rather loose interpretation λιθόστρωτον, i. e. a stone pavement, which some interpreters think was a portable pavement, or the square blocks such as the Roman generals carried with them, to be laid down not only under their seats in general, but also under those they occupied in administering justice (cf. Suetonius, Julius Caesar 46 and Casaubon at the passage). This opinion is opposed by the circumstance that John is not accustomed to add a Greek interpretation except to the Hebrew names of fixed Jewish localities, cf. John 5:2; John 9:7; John 19:17; and that this is so in the present case is evident from the fact that he has said εἰς τόπον, i. e. in a definite locality which had that name. Besides, it cannot be proved that that custom of the military commanders was followed also by the governors of provinces residing in cities. Doubtless the Chaldaic name was given to the spot from its shape, the Greek name from the nature of its pavement. Cf. below under λιθόστρωτον; Winers RWB under the word Lithostroton; (BB. DD. under the word ; Tholuck, Beiträge zur Spracherklärung as above with p. 119ff).