^18:6So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Take²⁰ three measures²¹ of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.”²²^18:7Then Abraham ran to the herd and chose a fine, tender calf, and gave it to a servant,²³ who quickly prepared it.²⁴^18:8Abraham²⁵ then took some curds and milk, along with the calf that had been prepared, and placed the food²⁶ before them. They ate while²⁷ he was standing near them under a tree.

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Footnotes

20 The word “take” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text the sentence lacks a verb other than the imperative “hurry.” The elliptical structure of the language reflects Abraham’s haste to get things ready quickly.
21 Three measures (Heb “three seahs”) was equivalent to about twenty quarts (twenty-two liters) of flour, which would make a lot of bread. The animal prepared for the meal was far more than the three visitors needed. This was a banquet for royalty. Either it had been a lonely time for Abraham and the presence of visitors made him very happy, or he sensed this was a momentous visit.
22 The bread was the simple, round bread made by bedouins that is normally prepared quickly for visitors.
23 Heb “the young man.”
24 The construction uses the Piel preterite, “he hurried,” followed by the infinitive construct; the two probably form a verbal hendiadys: “he quickly prepared.”
25 Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
26 The words “the food” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text the verb has no stated object.
27 The disjunctive clause is a temporal circumstantial clause subordinate to the main verb.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”

Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Knead three measures of fine flour and make bread.” Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it. Then Abraham took curds and milk, as well as the calf that he had prepared, and set them before the men. He served them as they ate under the tree.

NLTNew Living Translation

So Abraham ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get three large measures of your best flour, knead it into dough, and bake some bread.” Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it. When the food was ready, Abraham took some yogurt and milk and the roasted meat, and he served it to the men. As they ate, Abraham waited on them in the shade of the trees.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Then Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and he said, “Quickly—make three seahs of fine flour for kneading and make bread cakes!” And Abraham ran to the cattle and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, and he made haste to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk, and the calf which he prepared, and set it before them. And he was standing by them under the tree while they ate.

KJV 1900King James Version

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

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