Was Jesus impaled on a cross or stake?
What does the Bible really say?
Instead of the traditional translation “cross” as used in most Bibles, we'll use the original Greek word.
John 19:17 And he bearing his staurus went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
Mark 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the staurus, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
Matt 27:40 and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the staurus.”
According to Strong's Concordance, the basic meaning of the original Greek word staurus is:
G4716 σταυρός stauros (stav-ros') n.
1. a stake or post (as set upright).
Unfortunately, because of the widespread and popular interpretation, albeit not the original meaning, the Strong's Concordance has also added “cross” as another alternate meaning.
However, many modern scholars say that the original meaning of staurus is upright stake. According to A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament, staurus never meant two pieces of wood joining each other at any angle.
So based on the original manuscript text, Jesus was impaled on a stake (staurus) – not a cross.