Matthew 3:1

New English Translation

3 In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness^[a] of Judea proclaiming,

Matthew 3:4

New English Translation

⁴Now John wore clothing made from camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.^[a]

Matthew 3:4 sn John’s lifestyle was in stark contrast to many of the religious leaders of Jerusalem who lived in relative ease and luxury. While his clothing and diet were indicative of someone who lived in the desert, they also depicted him in his role as God’s prophet (cf. Zech 13:4); his appearance is similar to the Prophet Elijah (2 Kgs 1:8). Locusts and wild honey were a common diet in desert regions, and locusts (dried insects) are listed in Lev 11:22 among the “clean” foods.