Genesis 18:6
in Genesis 18So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Genesis 18
Commentary
11 notes on this verseHe says, sprinkle three measures of flour, and make it ash-colored. In Greek, they are called ἐγκρύφια, that is, hidden; because every mystery should be hidden and covered with faithful silence, lest it be rashly divulged to profane ears. The divine majesty is nourished by this, and it feasts on this affection, which is sparing in speech and does not bring sacred things into the open.
This site's exposition
three seahs of fine flour
on Genesis 18:6-8
Three seahs of fine flour comes to something near a bushel. A tender and choice calf is the top of that table, so the bit of bread arrives as a feast. Sarah works the flour, a servant prepares the calf, and Abraham hurries twice in three verses. He stands by them under the tree while they eat, where a servant stands.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
(Chapter 18, Verse 6) And he said to him: Hurry, mix three measures of wheat flour. Because three measures are explicitly mentioned here, and the measure is uncertain: therefore I added that in Hebrew it has three sata, that is, three amphoras: so that we may understand the same mystery here and in the Gospel, where a woman is said to have fermented three measures of wheat flour (Matthew 13:33).
He serves therefore bread mixed "with three measures of fine wheat flour." He received three men; he mixed the bread "with three measures of fine wheat flour." Everything he does is mystical; everything is filled with mystery.
Therefore he says to his wife Sarah, "Hasten to the tent and mix three measures of fine wheat flour and make bread upon the hearth." The Greek is en-kryphia, which indicates secret or hidden bread.
The Medieval Church2 voices
The flour that Sarah mixed to refresh the angels is the internal sweetness of God's word, which the prophet promises to the heavenly Jerusalem, that is, the holy Church, saying of the Lord: "He makes peace your borders, and fills you with the finest of …
Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said to her: "Hurry, mix three measures of fine meal, and make cakes upon the hearth."
4 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
But the fact that Sarah makes bread under the ashes is very relevant. Bread baked under the ashes, while being baked, is indeed cooked with fire and lies hidden in the darkness, but only the ash that accumulates on top is visible to the eyes …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Three measures of fine meal - The סאה seah, which is here translated measure, contained, according to Bishop Cumberland, about two gallons and a half; and Mr. Ainsworth translates the word peck. On this circumstance the following observations of the judicious and pious Abbe Fleury cannot fail to be acceptable to the reader. Speaking of the frugality of the patriarchs he says: “We have an instance of a splendid entertainment in that which Abraham made for the three angels. He set a whole calf before them, new bread, but baked on the hearth, together with butter and milk.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Abraham hastened . . . unto Sarah . . . make cakes upon the hearth--Bread is baked daily, no more than is required for family use, and always by the women, commonly the wife. Flour mixed with water is made into dough, and being rolled out into cakes, it is placed on the earthen floor, previously heated by a fire.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְמַהֵ֧ר | vaymaher | and he hurried | H4116 → | 68 times |
| אַבְרָהָ֛ם | ʾavraham | Abraham | H85 → | 175 times |
| הָאֹ֖הֱלָה | haohelah | the tent towards | H168 → | 345 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| שָׂרָ֑ה | sarah | Sarah | H8283 → | 38 times |
| וַיֹּ֗אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| מַהֲרִ֞י | mahari | bring quickly | H4116 → | 68 times |
| שְׁלֹ֤שׁ | shelosh | three | H7969 → | 432 times |
| סְאִים֙ | seim | seahs | H5429 → | |
| קֶ֣מַח | kemach | flour | H7058 → | |
| סֹ֔לֶת | solet | fine flour | H5560 → | |
| ל֖וּשִׁי | lushi | knead [it] | H3888 → | |
| וַעֲשִׂ֥י | vaasi | and make | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| עֻגֽוֹת׃ | ugot | bread cakes | H5692 → |
וַיְמַהֵ֧רand he hurried
vaymaherH4116 →68 times
אַבְרָהָ֛םAbraham
ʾavrahamH85 →175 times
הָאֹ֖הֱלָהthe tent towards
haohelahH168 →345 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
שָׂרָ֑הSarah
sarahH8283 →38 times
וַיֹּ֗אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
מַהֲרִ֞יbring quickly
mahariH4116 →68 times
שְׁלֹ֤שׁthree
sheloshH7969 →432 times
סְאִים֙seahs
seimH5429 →
קֶ֣מַחflour
kemachH7058 →
סֹ֔לֶתfine flour
soletH5560 →
ל֖וּשִׁיknead [it]
lushiH3888 →
וַעֲשִׂ֥יand make
vaasiH6213 →2628 times
עֻגֽוֹת׃bread cakes
ugotH5692 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 5:13For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:16
Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
- 1 Corinthians 8:9
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
- Romans 15:1–2
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
- Galatians 5:14
The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- 1 Peter 2:16
Through
Hebrews 13:2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
it leads to
- Matthew 25:35
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,
- Genesis 18:1
Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent.
- Matthew 25:35
Through
Romans 12:13Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- Hebrews 13:16
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonPatriarchsSarahAbraham's wife — barren, then bearing Isaac by promise “past age” through faith; Paul's allegory of the covenant of promise (Gal 4…
- PersonPatriarchsAbrahamCalled out of Ur, the father of all who believe, justified by faith, and the friend of God through whose seed all nations are bles…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ambrose of Milan, On Abraham; Bede, Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Hebrew Questions on Genesis; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 4.2 and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 4.1.