Bible Strands
Matthew 3:4
John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Matthew records John’s appearance to crowds gathering from Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordan region as they respond to his wilderness ministry. The narrator describes John’s attire and diet at the moment he begins his public work.
The words — ἔνδυμα (enduma) means garment, and αὐτοῦ (autou) denotes possession, literally identifying the clothing as belonging to John. The text specifies he wore a camel’s hair garment secured by a leather belt around his waist.
The thread — His camel’s hair and leather belt parallel the description of Elijah in 2 Kings 1:8, while his diet of locusts aligns with the clean food regulations in Leviticus 11:22. Zechariah 13:4 later references a hairy cloak in the context of prophetic shame.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition of John’s deliberate separation from conventional society through his specific clothing and diet. It requires the reader to acknowledge his role as a distinct figure preparing the way for the Lord.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 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.
- Matthew 11:8 Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces.
- Mark 1:6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
- Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
- 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.”
- Deuteronomy 32:13 He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him the produce of the field. He nourished him with honey from the rock and oil from the flinty crag,
- 1 Samuel 14:25 Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground.
- Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’