Matthew 3:4

“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.”

King James Version (KJV)

Other Translations

And the same Iohn had his raiment of camels haire, and a leatherne girdle about his loynes, and his meate was locusts and wilde hony.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

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.
- New American Standard Version (1995)

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.
- American Standard Version (1901)

Now John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather band about him; and his food was locusts and honey.
- Basic English Bible

And John himself had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and wild honey.
- Darby Bible

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.
- Webster's Bible

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

And this Joon hadde clothing of camels heeris, and a girdil of skynne aboute hise leendis; and his mete was honysoukis, and hony of the wode.
- Wycliffe Bible

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.
- Youngs Literal Bible

Bible commentary

Wesley's Notes for Matthew 3:4


3:4 John had his raiment of camels' hair - Coarse and rough, suiting his character and doctrine. A leathern girdle - Like Elijah, in whose spirit and power he came. His food was locusts and wild honey - Locusts are ranked among clean meats, #Lev 11:22|. But these were not always to be had. So in default of those, he fed on wild honey.


People's Bible Notes for Matthew 3:4


Mt 3:4 Raiment of camel's hair. See 2Ki 1:8. Not the camel's skin with hair on it, but a garment made of the shaggier camel's hair, woven in a coarse fabric. It was recognized as a garb of the prophets (Zec 13:4), and is still worn in the East by the poor. A leathern girdle about his loins. The "'leathern' girdle" may be seen around the body of the common laborer. It fastens the loose raiment of the East about the waist. His meat. His food. Locusts. Permitted to the Jews as an article of food (Le 11:22), and still used by the poorer classes in Arabia, Egypt and Nubia. They are a large, voracious insect, much like the Rocky Mountain grasshopper. Wild honey. Honey deposited by wild swarms of bees in the rocks. So abundant was it that Palestine was described as "flowing with milk and honey". John was no epicure, and used such food as the wilderness provided.

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