Like Abraham, Gideon prepares meat and bread for his guest (see Gen 18.1-8). The narrator takes great care in providing details of the preparation and presentation of this offering, which shows that it is not just a common meal.

So, which renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, serves as a good connector here. New Jerusalem Bible has “At this.” Some versions leave this conjunction untranslated (Contemporary English Version, New International Version). However, any appropriate connector can be used.

Gideon went into his house renders a very short Hebrew clause, literally “Gideon went.” These two words cover a whole series of actions since Gideon would first have to go to his flock, choose a goat, and then butcher it. The word rendered went sometimes means “entered,” which might suggest he went into his house, but it is more likely that “Gideon went off” (New American Bible) or “Gideon went away” (New Jerusalem Bible). Contemporary English Version says “Gideon went home,” implying that he left the wine press area and went back home. However, this rendering may not be correct, since it is likely that his flock was closer to where he was threshing his wheat.

And prepared a kid: Prepared renders the Hebrew verb that means simply “do” or “make.” Here it refers to the act of killing and cooking an animal, which may need to be made explicit in some languages. Additionally, some languages may require that the method of cooking be specified. Probably the meat was cut in pieces and boiled in a large cooking pot, which is mentioned later in the verse. Gideon was probably the agent giving directives, not necessarily the person carrying out each of these acts. Translators can make this clear by rendering this clause as “and he had his servants prepare….” A kid (literally “a kid of goats”) refers to “a young goat” (Good News Translation).

And unleavened cakes from an ephah of flour: Along with the goat meat, Gideon had bread made. There is an ellipsis in this clause, since the verb prepared is understood. Some languages will need to repeat this verb, while others will use a different verb for bread, such as “baked.” The Hebrew word rendered unleavened cakes (matsah) refers to a kind of flat bread that was made without yeast. Normally bread must rise before it can be cooked, so unleavened cakes refers to a kind of bread that can be made quickly. Gideon appears to have been in a hurry to get his offering ready, because he is afraid his guest might leave. This bread is yet another connection to an important episode in the history of the Israelites, when they made unleavened bread as they prepared to leave Egypt (Exo 13.3-10). Later this kind of bread became part of the standard offering to God (Lev 2.4, 11). Though the bread was probably round, the English word cakes may be misleading, since these did not resemble the sweet cakes known in many cultures today. Here unleavened cakes may be rendered “bread without any yeast” (Good News Translation), “thin bread” (Contemporary English Version), or “flat bread.” An ephah was the standard measure for measuring grains and similar articles. It was equivalent to about 22 liters or 0.6 bushel, so an ephah of flour would be a huge amount. Certainly the quantity is not crucial, so translators can use a general expression such as “a big sack of flour” (Contemporary English Version) or “a bushel of flour” (Good News Translation). The flour is certainly wheat flour, but this is not specified in the text. A general word for flour will be acceptable here. Contemporary English Version adds a new element, saying “Next, he opened a big sack of flour and made it into thin bread,” but it is better to stay close to the text if possible. Here the text does not say where the flour was stored.

The meat he put in a basket: Gideon puts the goat meat in a container to carry it to his guest. Some languages may need to insert a time clause here, for example, “After cooking the meat…” or “When he finished cooking the meat….” Contemporary English Version says “When the meat was done….” Like Hebrew, Revised Standard Version begins with the object the meat. It may be better to render this clause as “he had the meat put into a basket.” The Hebrew word for basket refers to a container made of woven materials, usually grass or reeds. In most cultures baskets are not the usual containers for meat. Perhaps this basket refers to a shallow tray-like container. A more common word can be used, as long as it does not refer to an item made with modern materials.

And the broth he put in a pot: Once again, the object of the verb (the broth) occurs in initial position in Hebrew. The broth refers to the liquid or soup in which the meat was cooked. We could also speak of the meat’s “sauce.” This sauce was put into a pot, which renders a Hebrew word referring to a deep container made of metal or earthenware. Translators should be careful to use a term that can refer to a container used in biblical times, for example, “clay cooking pot” (Contemporary English Version). In Hebrew a pot is literally “the pot,” so it probably refers to the pot where the meat was cooked.

And brought them to him under the oak and presented them: Gideon brings the things he has prepared to his guest. The pronoun them refers to the meat, the broth, and the bread. New Jerusalem Bible renders brought them as “brought it all,” which is a good model. To him under the oak refers to the LORD’s angel (or the LORD) who is still waiting for Gideon under the large tree (verse 6.11). Good News Translation makes this explicit by rendering the pronoun him as “the LORD’s angel.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh capitalizes this pronoun to make a direct reference to Yahweh, which while helping readers, will not be helpful for those hearing the text read aloud. For oak see the comments on verse 6.11. The mention of this tree, which many believe to be sacred, adds to the idea that the presentation of this food is indeed a religious act.

Presented translates a Hebrew verb meaning “bring near,” which is often used in the context of sacrifices, thus New International Version says “offered them to him.” Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible follow a different reading by saying “As he approached,” thinking Gideon presents himself to the LORD’s angel. The Septuagint has another reading, which is “and he [Gideon] worshiped.” However, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives an {A} rating to the reading in RSV.

One possible model for this verse is:

• So Gideon went off to slaughter a young goat and prepare it. He also took a bushel of flour and made some flat bread. When it was done, he put the meat on a tray and put the broth in a pot. Then he brought this all under the large tree and presented it as an offering to the angel of the LORD.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .