Verse 6 does not give an occasion to assume a direct and intentional reference to Elijah, for clothing and food are not legitimized by reference to the Old Testament. The comparison to Elijah can therefore be regarded only as being indirect. Further, when Jesus speaks about John’s austere clothes and his fasting, he does not draw a direct connection with Elijah, but rather draws a connection to John’s appearance as a preacher of repentance, who calls the people to come to contrition (Matthew 11:18).1
6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.