Genesis 18:6

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

Genesis 18:6 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
6 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes."
New Living Translation (NLT)
6 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.”
The Message Bible (MSG)
6 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, "Hurry. Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread."
American Standard Version (ASV)
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to find Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three measures of flour, knead it, and make bread."
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, "Quick! Knead three measures of fine flour and make bread."
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick!" he said. "Get about half a bushel of fine flour. Mix it and bake some bread."

Genesis 18:6 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 18:6

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah
In order to acquaint her with his guests, and to give proper instructions for providing food for them; and this he hasted to do, being hearty in the entertainment of them, and that he might not keep them too long from their journey: and said,
to Sarah his wife, make ready quickly three measures of fine meal;
which was ready sifted from the bran, and was the finest flour that was in the house, and only wanted to be mixed and kneaded and made up into cakes; and he ordered three measures or seahs of them, each of which held more than our peck, and all three made an ephah or bushel, being willing to have enough, and to make a generous entertainment for them; this he enjoined Sarah to do, but not of herself, but by her maids, and no doubt, for quicker dispatch, she might assist herself, wherefore it follows: knead [it], and make cakes upon the hearth;
after the fine flour was made dough and kneaded, it was made into round cakes, and these were put upon an hearth made hot, and then covered with hot embers, by which means they were soon baked and fit to eat; this was done "upon hot stones" F14; and a traveller F15 into those parts some years ago reports, that, passing through the deserts of Arabia, when they chose to eat new bread, instead of, or for want of biscuits, they made a paste of flour and water, and wrought it into broad cakes about the thickness of a finger, and put them in a hot place on the ground, heated on purpose by fire, and covered them with ashes and coals, and turned them several times until they were enough, and that these cakes were savoury and good to eat: some of the Arabians, he says: have in their tents stones or copper plates, made on purpose to bake them, and gives F16 an instance of a woman they met with in a country lying between Mesopotamia and Media, making such cakes for them in the same manner.


FOOTNOTES:

F14 Bochart. Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 2. c. 34. col. 328.
F15 Rauwolff's Travels, par. 2. ch. 4. p. 120.
F16 Ib. c. 9. p. 163.

Genesis 18:6 In-Context

4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.
5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
6 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.”
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
8 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.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Genesis 19:3; 2 Samuel 13:8

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. That is, probably about 36 pounds or about 16 kilograms
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