Keraia
Mark 1

Mark 1:6

The Mission of John the Baptist · Mark 1:1–11
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Translations

Modern
John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Traditional
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;
Literal
And John was clothed in camel’s hair, and a belt of leather was around his waist, and he is eating locusts and wild honey.
Latin
Et erat Joannes vestitus pilis cameli, et zona pellicea circa lumbos ejus, et locustas et mel silvestre edebat.

Original

Greek
English
John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Notes

Mark 1:6

  • camel’s hair, with a leather belt: Compare with Elijah (2 Kings 1:8).

  • John ate what was available in the wilderness. Locusts (a type of insect) were allowed as food by God’s law (compare Leviticus 11:20–24).

Mark 1:2–8

This account does not focus mainly on John the Baptist, the messenger. Instead, it is about the one whom he announces as Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God (1:1).

Theme notes and profiles

John the Baptist Baptism

Events

Parallels

Isaiah 40:1–5 Matthew 3:1–17 Luke 3:1–22 John 1:19–34

People

John: The Baptist, a prophet who prepared the way for Jesus

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Clothing Food and Food Preparation Honey John the Baptist Locusts Mark, Gospel of Prophecy Travel

Topics

Camel: Hair of, Made Into Cloth Honey was Eaten with Locusts John: Affected Probably by the Doctrines of the Stoics John: Mission of Leather: Called |Skin| Locust used As Food Locusts