In some other contexts crucified has been translated as “nailed to crossed boards to kill” or “executed by being nailed to a cross.” In this verse Jesus has been nailed to the cross, but he is not yet dead, so “nailed to the cross” is more appropriate.

Crucified represents a participle in the Greek text, and it is dependent upon the main verb divided, which introduces an allusion to Psalm 22.18. In translation it may be necessary to mention the casting lots before the dividing of his clothes among them, so as to reflect a chronological arrangement. An example is “they cast lots (or, threw dice) to see who would have different pieces (or, parts) of his garments (or, clothes).”

“Throwing dice” is an attempt by Good News Translation in the direction of a cultural equivalent. Most translations have either casting lots (Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible) or “drawing lots” (Moffatt, An American Translation, Barclay).

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .