Genesis 18:5-7 New English Translation

⁵And let me get^[a] a bit of food^[b] so that you may refresh yourselves^[c] since you have passed by your servant’s home. After that you may be on your way.”^[d] “All right,” they replied, “you may do as you say.”

⁶So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Take^[e] three measures^[f] of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.”^[g] ⁷Then Abraham ran to the herd and chose a fine, tender calf, and gave it to a servant,^[h] who quickly prepared it.^[i]

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Footnotes

Genesis 18:5 tn The Qal cohortative here probably has the nuance of polite request.
Genesis 18:5 tn Heb “a piece of bread.” The Hebrew word לֶחֶם (lekhem) can refer either to bread specifically or to food in general. Based on Abraham’s directions to Sarah in v. 6, bread was certainly involved, but v. 7 indicates that Abraham had a more elaborate meal in mind.
Genesis 18:5 tn Heb “strengthen your heart.” The imperative after the cohortative indicates purpose here.
Genesis 18:5 tn Heb “so that you may refresh yourselves, after [which] you may be on your way—for therefore you passed by near your servant.”
Genesis 18:6 tn 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.
Genesis 18:6 sn Three measures (Heb “three seahs”) was equivalent to about 20 quarts (22 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.
Genesis 18:6 sn The bread was the simple, round bread made by bedouins that is normally prepared quickly for visitors.
Genesis 18:7 tn Heb “the young man.”
Genesis 18:7 tn The construction uses the Piel preterite, “he hurried,” followed by the infinitive construct; the two probably form a verbal hendiadys: “he quickly prepared.”

New English Translation (NET)