Matthew 3:4
New International Version
John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

New Living Translation
John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.

English Standard Version
Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Berean Standard Bible
John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Berean Literal Bible
And John himself had his garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

King James Bible
And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

New King James Version
Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

New American Standard Bible
Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

NASB 1995
Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

NASB 1977
Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather belt about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Amplified Bible
Now this same John had clothing made of camel’s hair and a [wide] leather band around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Christian Standard Bible
Now John had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
John himself had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

American Standard Version
Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Contemporary English Version
John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.

English Revised Version
Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
John wore clothes made from camel's hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.

Good News Translation
John's clothes were made of camel's hair; he wore a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

International Standard Version
John had clothing made of camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of grasshoppers and wild honey.

Majority Standard Bible
John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

NET Bible
Now John wore clothing made from camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.

New Heart English Bible
Now John himself wore clothing made of camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Weymouth New Testament
This man John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a loincloth of leather; and he lived upon locusts and wild honey.

World English Bible
Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And this John had his clothing of camel’s hair, and a girdle of skin around his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and honey of the field.

Berean Literal Bible
And John himself had his garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Young's Literal Translation
And this John had his clothing of camel's hair, and a girdle of skin round his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and honey of the field.

Smith's Literal Translation
And this John had his garment from camel's hair, and a leather girdle about his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the same John had his garment of camels' hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now the same John had a garment made from the hair of camels, and a leather belt around his waist. And his food was locusts and wild honey.

New American Bible
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

New Revised Standard Version
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now the same John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had leathern belts around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And this Yohannan had his garment of camel hair and wore a leather garment around his waist, and his food was locusts and honey of the field.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But the same John had his clothing of camel's hair, and a girdle of leather around his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Godbey New Testament
And the same John had his raiment from camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Haweis New Testament
Now this John had his garment made of camel’s hair, and a girdle of leather about his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Mace New Testament
now John wore a coat made of camels hair, with a leathern girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild hony.

Weymouth New Testament
This man John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a loincloth of leather; and he lived upon locusts and wild honey.

Worrell New Testament
And John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Worsley New Testament
And this John had his clothes of camels hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Mission of John the Baptist
3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’ ” 4 John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.…

Cross References
Mark 1:6
John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

2 Kings 1:8
“He was a hairy man,” they answered, “with a leather belt around his waist.” “It was Elijah the Tishbite,” said the king.

Leviticus 11:22
Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper.

Zechariah 13:4
And on that day every prophet who prophesies will be ashamed of his vision, and he will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive.

Malachi 4:5
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.

Matthew 11:18
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’

Luke 1:17
And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Luke 7:33
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

John 1:21
“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

John 1:23
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

John 3:28
You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’

Acts 13:24
Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Acts 19:4
Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

Isaiah 40:3
A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.

1 Kings 17:4-6
And you are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” / So Elijah did what the LORD had told him, and he went and lived by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan. / The ravens would bring him bread and meat in the morning and evening, and he would drink from the brook.


Treasury of Scripture

And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

his raiment.

Matthew 11:8
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

2 Kings 1:8
And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

Zechariah 13:4
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:

and his.

Matthew 11:18
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

Leviticus 11:22
Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.

wild.

Deuteronomy 32:13
He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

1 Samuel 14:25-27
And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground…

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Matthew 3
1. John preaches: his office, life, and baptism.
7. He reprimands the Pharisees,
13. and baptizes Jesus in Jordan.














John wore a garment of camel’s hair
The phrase "John wore a garment of camel’s hair" evokes the image of a prophet living in simplicity and austerity. The Greek word for "garment" (ἔνδυμα) suggests a covering or clothing, indicating that John’s attire was not for fashion but for function. Camel’s hair was a coarse material, often associated with the poor or those who chose a life of asceticism. This choice of clothing aligns John with the Old Testament prophet Elijah, who is described in 2 Kings 1:8 as a "hairy man" with a leather belt. John's attire signifies his prophetic role and his call to repentance, echoing the message of the prophets who came before him.

with a leather belt around his waist
The "leather belt" is a significant detail that further connects John to the prophetic tradition, particularly Elijah. In the ancient Near East, a leather belt was practical for securing garments and carrying tools or weapons. Symbolically, it represents readiness and strength. The Greek word for "belt" (ζώνη) implies a girding up, a preparation for action. John's belt signifies his readiness to fulfill his mission as the forerunner of Christ, preparing the way for the Lord with urgency and determination.

His food was locusts and wild honey
The diet of "locusts and wild honey" underscores John's ascetic lifestyle and his separation from worldly comforts. Locusts, considered clean according to Levitical law (Leviticus 11:22), were a common food source in the region, especially for those living in the wilderness. The Greek word for "locusts" (ἀκρίδες) indicates a type of grasshopper, emphasizing John's reliance on what God provided in nature. "Wild honey" (μέλι ἄγριον) suggests sustenance found in the wild, unprocessed and pure. Together, these foods symbolize a return to simplicity and reliance on God’s provision. John's diet reflects his message of repentance and turning away from excess, calling people to focus on spiritual nourishment rather than material abundance.

(4) His raiment of camel's hair.--The dress was probably deliberately adopted by the Baptist as reviving the outward appearance of Elijah, who was "a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather" (2Kings 1:8); and the "rough garment," that had been characteristic of the prophet's life even at a later period (Zechariah 13:4), as contrasted with the "long garments" of the Pharisees (Mark 12:38), and the "gorgeous apparel" of the scribes who attached themselves to the court of Herod (Luke 7:25). The Nazarite vow of Luke 1:15 probably involved long and shaggy hair as well.

Locusts and wild honey.--Locusts were among the articles of food permitted by the Law (Leviticus 11:21), and were and are still used by the poor in Palestine and Syria. They are commonly salted and dried, and may be cooked in various ways, pounded, or fried in butter, and they taste like shrimps. It is needless, when the facts are so clear, to go out of the way to seek the food of the Baptist in the sweet pods of the so-called locust-tree (Ceratonia Siliqua), with which it has been sometimes identified. The "wild honey" was that found in the hollows of trees (as in the history of Jonathan, 1Samuel 14:25), or in the "rocks" (Deuteronomy 32:13; Psalm 81:16). Stress is laid on the simplicity of the Baptist's fare, requiring no skill or appliances, the food of the poorest wanderer in the wilderness, presenting a marked contrast to the luxury of the dwellers in towns. The life of Banus, the hermit-master of Josephus, who lived only on herbs and water (Life, c. 2) presented analogous though not identical features. . . .

Verse 4. - With this verse we begin to meet with matter peculiar to Matthew and Mark. And the same John (αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ Ἰωάνης). (For the phrase, cf. Mark 6:17 Luke 3:23.)

(1) If the Revised Version "Now John himself," holds good, the phrase seems to mean that not only did Isaiah speak of him in terms that implied that he was the forerunner of Messiah, the true Elijah (Mark 1:2), but also he himself had his very food and dress consistent with his office.

(2) But it is safer, with Thayer's 'Grimm' (1:2, a), to take αὐτός as merely recalling the person before mentioned. "Now he, whom I spoke of, John" (cf. 2 Chronicles 32:30). Had; during all that time (εϊχεν). His habitual dress, etc., was as follows. Of (ἀπό) camel's hair. Not, as Dgr Old Lat. a in the parallel passage in Mark, δέῥῤην, pellem, "a camel's hide," but coarse cloth made from the hair. So probably," hairy man" (2 Kings 1:8; el. Zechariah 13:4). And a leathern girdle. Probably of sheep or goatskin, worn over the garment. Mentioned because

(1) it formed another point of similarity to Elijah (2 Kings 1:8); . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
John
Ἰωάννης (Iōannēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2491: Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.

wore
εἶχεν (eichen)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

a garment
ἔνδυμα (endyma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1742: A garment, raiment, clothing. From enduo; apparel.

of
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

camel’s
καμήλου (kamēlou)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2574: A camel or dromedary. Of Hebrew origin; a 'camel'.

hair,
τριχῶν (trichōn)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 2359: Hair (of the head or of animals). Genitive case trichos, etc. of uncertain derivation; hair.

with
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[a] leather
δερματίνην (dermatinēn)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1193: Made of hide, leathern. From derma; made of hide.

belt
ζώνην (zōnēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2223: Probably akin to the base of zugos; a belt; by implication, a pocket.

around
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

waist.
ὀσφὺν (osphyn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3751: The loins. Of uncertain affinity; the loin, i.e. The hip; internally procreative power.

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

food
τροφὴ (trophē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5160: Food, nourishment, maintenance. From trepho; nourishment; by implication, rations.

was
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

locusts
ἀκρίδες (akrides)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 200: A locust. Apparently from the same as akron; a locust.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

wild
ἄγριον (agrion)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 66: Wild, fierce. From agros; wild, literally or figuratively.

honey.
μέλι (meli)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3192: Honey. Apparently a primary word; honey.


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