14 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.

In other versions

Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.

And John was dressed in camel’s hair and a belt made of leather around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

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