Verse

Genesis 18:7

ESV And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.
NIV Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
NASB Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it.
CSB Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it.
NLT Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it.
KJV 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.
NKJV And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it.

What does Genesis 18:7 mean?

The text here makes clear that Abraham is hurrying. Having convinced three unexpected visitors, including God in human form, to stay and allow Abraham to provide them water and a bit of bread, Abraham now rushes to provide them with a feast.

In the previous verse, Abraham told Sarah to quickly make cakes of bread for them. He specified that she should use more than five gallons, some 21 liters, of fine flour; this would have made a very large banquet of bread. Now, the wealthy and powerful Abraham hurries to his herd of cattle and grabs a tender calf to give to a young male servant to quickly prepare for the meal.

Abraham is both eager to serve the Lord and eager for them not to leave. Abraham behaves as the Lord's servant, exhibiting both the warm hospitality of a good host and an attitude of submission. His passion is revealed in the terms used in this passage: Abraham "went quickly" (Genesis 18:6), he "ran," and the young man prepared the meat "quickly."
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