And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah: And represents a transition to another brief episode, the preparation of the meal for Abraham’s visitors. Many translations will begin a new paragraph here. Some languages will also require a marker for the transition, such as “After they had said that,” “Then,” or “And so.” Hastened, a different word than the one translated “ran” in verse 2, is more general and means to do something quickly, and so “Abraham hurried, rushed.” The urgency of providing for Abraham’s guests is seen in verse 2, here, and again twice in Gen 18.7.

Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal: the Hebrew text says “Hurry, three measures of fine meal….” The sense is “Hurry and get ready three…” or “Quickly prepare three….” Measure translates Hebrew seʾah, which is a dry measure for flour and cereals. The exact quantity of this measurement is uncertain; but what is important for this context is that it is a large amount of flour. Speiser says it is a third of an efah, or approximately thirteen liters, which is approximately three American gallons. This may be correct and gives some idea of the quantity; but in many parts of the world, such units of measurement as liters and gallons are not appropriate for flour and grain. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy calls it “twenty kilos” (forty-four pounds), Good News Translation says “a sack,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “three pans.” Because the measurement is uncertain and the exact quantity not vital information in the story, a general term that is meaningful to a home baker should be used in the translator’s language. Both Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch are suitable models.

Fine meal refers to the quality of the wheat flour and not to how finely it has been ground, and so Good News Translation and others say “your best flour.” If wheat flour is not used or known, another flour from which bread-like food can be baked will normally be suitable.

Knead it refers to the rolling and pressing action of the hands on the dough. Kneading was done in a pottery bowl or a wooden bowl or trough. Abraham’s instructions to Sarah are not instructions on how to make bread. Kneading the dough (not just the flour) is only one step in the process. The rendering should not give the impression that Sarah is being told to knead only the flour. Good News Translation and others omit any reference to kneading by translating “Take a sack of your best flour, and bake some bread.” We may retain knead by saying, for example, “Take some of your best flour, knead the dough, and bake it.” Where kneading of dough is not known, the word can easily be omitted, and some related form of cooking or baking may be used.

And make cake: cakes translates a word used also in Exo 12.39; Num 11.8; 1 Kgs 17.13; Ezek 4.12. According to interpreters these refer to small, round loaves of bread; they did not contain sugar as the English word cakes may suggest. These small loaves were baked on hot stones and covered with ashes to retain the heat.

In translation a term for small loaves of bread should be used if possible; in English New Jerusalem Bible has “make loaves,” and Speiser “make rolls.” If such terms are not available, a general expression such as “some bread” (Good News Translation, New International Version) will be best. In areas where bread is unknown, a local substitute may be used.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .