Esther 1:11

1:11 to bring Queen Vashti into the king’s presence wearing her royal high turban. He wanted to show the people and the officials her beauty, for she was very attractive. ¹ 

Esther 8:15

8:15 Now Mordecai went out from the king’s presence in purple and white royal attire, with a large golden crown and a purple linen mantle. The city of Susa shouted with joy. ² 

Matthew 10:16

Persecution of Disciples

10:16 “I ³  am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, ⁴  so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Matthew 11:8

11:8 What ⁵  did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? ⁶  Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings! ⁷ 

Matthew 11:1

11:1 When ⁸  Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

Matthew 3:3-5

3:3 For he is the one about whom Isaiah the prophet had spoken: ⁹ 

“The voice ¹⁰  of one shouting in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make ¹¹  his paths straight.’” ¹² 

3:4 Now John wore clothing made from camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey. ¹³  3:5 Then people from Jerusalem, ¹⁴  as well as all Judea and all the region around the Jordan, were going out to him,

[1:11]  ¹ tn Heb “was good of appearance”; KJV “was fair to look on”; NAB “was lovely to behold.”

[8:15]  ² tn Heb “shouted and rejoiced.” The expression is a hendiadys (see the note on 5:10 for an explanation of this figure).

[10:16]  ³ tn Grk “Behold I.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[10:16]  ⁴ sn This imagery of wolves is found in intertestamental Judaism; see Pss. Sol. 8:23, 30.

[11:8]  ⁵ tn Grk “But what.” Here ἀλλά (alla, a strong contrastive in Greek) produces a somewhat awkward sense in English, and has not been translated. The same situation occurs at the beginning of v. 9.

[11:8]  ⁶ sn The reference to fancy clothes makes the point that John was not rich or powerful, in that he did not come from the wealthy classes.

[11:8]  ⁷ tn Or “palaces.”

[11:1]  ⁸ tn Grk “And it happened when.” The introductory phrase καὶ ἐγένετο (kai egeneto, “it happened that”) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[3:3]  ⁹ tn Grk “was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying.” The participle λέγοντος (legonto") is redundant and has not been translated. The passive construction has also been rendered as active in the translation for the sake of English style.

[3:3]  ¹⁰ tn Or “A voice.”

[3:3]  ¹¹ sn This call to “make paths straight” in this context is probably an allusion to preparation through repentance.

[3:3]  ¹² sn A quotation from Isa 40:3.

[3:4]  ¹³ 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.

[3:5]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “Then Jerusalem.”