Genesis 18:7
New International Version
Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.

New Living Translation
Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it.

English Standard Version
And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.

Berean Standard Bible
Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it.

New American Standard Bible
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.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
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.

Legacy Standard Bible
Abraham also ran to the herd and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to his young man, and he hurried to prepare it.

Amplified Bible
Abraham also ran to the herd and brought a calf, tender and choice, and he gave it to the servant [to butcher], and he hurried to prepare it.

Christian Standard Bible
Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it.

American Standard Version
And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hasted to dress it.

Contemporary English Version
After saying this, he rushed off to his herd of cattle and picked out one of the best calves, which his servant quickly prepared.

English Revised Version
And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hasted to dress it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Abraham ran to the herd and took one of his best calves. He gave it to his servant, who prepared it quickly.

Good News Translation
Then he ran to the herd and picked out a calf that was tender and fat, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to get it ready.

International Standard Version
Next, Abraham ran to the herd, found a choice and tender calf, and gave it to the young men, who went off in a hurry to prepare it.

Majority Standard Bible
Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.

NET Bible
Then Abraham ran to the herd and chose a fine, tender calf, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.

New Heart English Bible
Abraham ran to the herd, and took a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abraham ran to the herd, and brought a calf tender and good, and gave it to a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

World English Bible
Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Abraham ran to the herd, and takes a son of the herd, tender and good, and gives to the young man, and he hurries to prepare it;

Young's Literal Translation
and Abraham ran unto the herd, and taketh a son of the herd, tender and good, and giveth unto the young man, and he hasteth to prepare it;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abraham running to the oxen, will take the son of a cow, tender and good, and will give to the youth, and he will hasten to do it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he himself ran to the herd, and took from thence a calf very tender and very good, and gave it to a young man: who made haste and boiled it.

Catholic Public Domain Version
In truth, he himself ran to the herd, and he took a calf from there, very tender and very good, and he gave it to a servant, who hurried and boiled it.

New American Bible
He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.

New Revised Standard Version
Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf fat and good, and gave it to a servant, and he hastened to prepare it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abraham ran to the herd and he took one fat and good calf and he gave it to a boy and he hurried to prepare it.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hastened to dress it.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abraam ran to the kine, and took a young calf, tender and good, and gave it to his servant, and he hasted to dress it.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Three Visitors
6So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.” 7Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.…

Cross References
Genesis 19:3
But Lot insisted so strongly that they followed him into his house. He prepared a feast for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

Judges 6:19
So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread and an ephah of flour. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and brought them out to present to Him under the oak.

1 Samuel 28:24
The woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She also took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.

2 Samuel 12:4
Now a traveler came to the rich man, who refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.”

1 Kings 19:21
So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah.

Luke 15:23
Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.

Luke 15:27
‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’

Luke 15:30
But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

Matthew 22:4
Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

1 Samuel 25:18
Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys

2 Samuel 17:29
honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”

1 Kings 4:23
ten fat oxen, twenty range oxen, and a hundred sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened poultry.

1 Chronicles 12:40
And their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant supplies of flour, fig cakes and raisin cakes, wine and oil, oxen and sheep. Indeed, there was joy in Israel.

Proverbs 9:2
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

Isaiah 22:13
But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”


Treasury of Scripture

And Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it to a young man; and he hurried to dress it.

Genesis 19:3
And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

Judges 13:15,16
And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee…

Amos 6:4
That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;

Jump to Previous
Abraham Attendant Calf Choice Dress Fat Fetched Good Hasted Hastened Hasteth Herd Hurried Ox Prepare Quickly Ran Running Selected Servant Soft Tender Young
Jump to Next
Abraham Attendant Calf Choice Dress Fat Fetched Good Hasted Hastened Hasteth Herd Hurried Ox Prepare Quickly Ran Running Selected Servant Soft Tender Young
Genesis 18
1. The Lord appears to Abraham, who entertains angels.
9. Sarah is reproved for laughing at the promise of a son.
16. The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham.
23. Abraham makes intercession for its inhabitants.














Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd
This phrase highlights Abraham's eagerness and hospitality. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, hospitality was a crucial social duty, especially in a nomadic lifestyle. Abraham's running indicates urgency and respect for his guests, who are later revealed to be divine visitors. This act of running, unusual for a man of his age and status, underscores his commitment to serving others, a theme consistent with his character throughout Genesis.

selected a tender and choice calf
The choice of a calf signifies the importance of the guests. In ancient times, offering meat, especially from a young and tender animal, was a sign of honor and generosity. This act reflects Abraham's wealth and willingness to use his resources to honor his visitors. The selection of a calf also foreshadows sacrificial themes found throughout the Bible, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

and gave it to a servant
Abraham's delegation of the task to a servant shows his leadership and the structured household he maintained. It also reflects the communal nature of hospitality, where the entire household participates in serving guests. This mirrors the biblical principle of serving others as a community, seen in the early church in Acts.

who hurried to prepare it
The servant's haste in preparing the meal indicates the urgency and importance of the task. This reflects the cultural expectation of promptness in hospitality. The preparation of the meal can be seen as a parallel to the preparation of the Passover lamb, emphasizing readiness and the significance of the occasion.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Abraham
The patriarch of the Israelites, known for his faith and obedience to God. In this passage, he demonstrates hospitality to three visitors.

2. The Herd
Represents Abraham's wealth and resources. The selection of a choice calf indicates the importance of the guests and Abraham's willingness to offer his best.

3. The Servant
An unnamed individual who assists Abraham by preparing the calf. This reflects the communal effort in showing hospitality.

4. The Visitors
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the context reveals they are divine messengers, including the Lord, visiting Abraham.

5. Mamre
The location where Abraham resides, near Hebron, known for its oak trees and as a place where Abraham built an altar to the Lord.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Hospitality
Abraham's actions highlight the biblical value of hospitality. As believers, we are called to welcome and serve others, reflecting God's love and generosity.

Offering Our Best to God and Others
Abraham chose a "tender, choice calf," symbolizing the offering of our best to God and others. This teaches us to give generously and sacrificially.

Promptness in Service
Abraham and his servant acted quickly, showing the importance of promptness in serving others. This reflects a heart eager to serve and honor God.

Community in Service
The involvement of Abraham's servant illustrates the communal aspect of service. We are encouraged to work together in serving others, fostering unity and cooperation.Verse 7. - And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, - the greatness of the honor done to the strangers was evinced by the personal activity of the patriarch, and the offering of animal food, which was not a common article of consumption among Orientals - and gave it unto a young man; - i.e. the servant in attendance (cf. Genesis 14:24) - and he hasted to dress it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Meanwhile, Abraham
אַבְרָהָ֑ם (’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

ran
רָ֣ץ (rāṣ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7323: To run

to
וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the herd,
הַבָּקָ֖ר (hab·bā·qār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1241: Beef cattle, ox, a herd

selected
וַיִּקַּ֨ח (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

a tender,
רַ֤ךְ (raḵ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7390: Tender, delicate, soft

choice
וָטוֹב֙ (wā·ṭō·wḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

calf,
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

and gave
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן (way·yit·tên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

it to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

a servant,
הַנַּ֔עַר (han·na·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

who hurried
וַיְמַהֵ֖ר (way·ma·hêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4116: To be liquid, flow easily, to hurry, promptly

to prepare it.
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make


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OT Law: Genesis 18:7 Abraham ran to the herd and fetched (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 18:6
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