Matthew 3:6

Verse 6. Were baptized. The word baptize signifies originally to tinge, to dye, to stain, as those who dye clothes. It here means to cleanse or wash anything by the application of water. See Barnes "Mr 7:4". Washing, or ablution, was much in use among the Jews, as one of the rites of their religion, Nu 19:7; Heb 9:10. It was not customary, however, among them, to baptize those who were converted to the Jewish religion until after the Babylonish captivity. At the time of John, and for some time previous, they had been accustomed to administer a rite of baptism, or washing, to those who became proselytes to their religion; that is, who were converted from being Gentiles.