A fatted calf: literally “calf from the stall,” that is, a calf that had been confined to a stall and fed to become fat. For this reason New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “a stall-fed calf” (so also New American Bible). Translators will recall the use of a similar expression in the story of the lost son in Luke 15.

In the house: the Hebrew can be translated in the house (so Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible) or “at home” (so Revised English Bible). Since Israelite houses were constructed to include space for animals as well as people, the translation in the house is probably correct. But a literal translation may give the wrong impression in cultures where animals are not kept in the same building where people live. Good News Translation avoids the problem by omitting any reference to the house. New International Version and New Century Version have “at the house,” which may help to avoid misunderstanding. But probably the best solution is to translate in the house and provide a footnote explaining this aspect of Israelite culture.

Quickly killed it is literally “made haste and killed it.” See the comments on verse 20 above.

Kneaded it: in some languages the translation of this verb may require several words. The term refers to the action of using the hands to press and work flour and liquid to form a mass of the consistency required for baking bread.

Unleavened bread: in translating the idea unleavened or “without yeast,” some languages have had to say something like “lacking that which causes it [bread] to rise” or “bread that does not swell up.” As in the case of the first Passover meal (Exo 12.8), the reason for preparing this type of bread is that it was quicker. Waiting for bread with yeast to rise takes time, and the woman felt that there was no time to waste.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .