King James Bible
"And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel."
This describes John the Baptist's physical and spiritual development, echoing similar language used for Samuel and Jesus. The phrase emphasizes that John's preparation for ministry involved both natural maturation and supernatural spiritual strengthening, essential for his prophetic calling. John's wilderness dwelling connects him to Israel's prophetic tradition, as the desert was a place of divine encounter and preparation. This geographical detail also fulfills prophecy about a voice crying in the wilderness and sets up his later emergence as an ascetic prophet. This phrase indicates a divinely appointed timing for John's public ministry, using technical language for formal presentation. The term suggests John remained hidden until God's precise moment for him to begin his role as forerunner to the Messiah.