And with the first lamb, literally “for the one lamb,” comes at the end of the verse in the Hebrew (as seen in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). A tenth measure of fine flour is just two words, literally “a tenth of flour.” The word for tenth, used alone in this context, means one-tenth of the standard dry measure, which was the “ephah” (see 16.36). The ʿomer, mentioned only in 16.36, was also one-tenth, but the term was not widely used. The word for fine flour means finely ground wheat flour. (See the comment at verse 2.) Good News Translation has “two pounds of fine wheat flour” (or “one kilogram”).

Mingled with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil is better understood as in Good News Translation, “mixed with one quart of pure olive oil” (or “one liter”). For beaten oil see 27.20 and the comment. The hin was the standard liquid measure, equal approximately to one gallon, or 3.8 liters. So a fourth of a hin of wine would also be “one quart of wine” (Good News Translation), “one liter.” The word for wine refers to fermented grape juice. This was to be used for a libation, or “a drink offering.” (See the comment on “wine” at 22.29.) The word for libation comes from the verb meaning “to pour,” so the wine was poured out “as an offering” (Good News Translation). It is not clear whether it was poured on the lamb, or on the altar, or at the foot of the altar.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .