Greek
Ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ [καὶ] κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν
Transliterated
egeneto Iōannēs ho baptizōn en tē erēmō kai kēryssōn baptisma metanoias eis aphesin hamartiōn
Literal English
Came John - baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming [a] baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins
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English
4John came into being in the desert submerging, preaching a submersion of inward change for the sending away of sins.
Commentary
† Submerged in the place without human distractions, in the purifying state of metanoia, of inward change of mind and heart, hamartia, sin, missing of the mark is sent away. Here is also the birthplace whence the formal Sacrament of Baptism usually given to infants grew. And of course infants we would not submerge in solitude nor expect a rational choice on their own part of inward change for their sins to be forgiven.