New International Version
Genesis 25:27
27The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents.
Genesis 25:27 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents.
- New Living Translation (NLT)As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home.
Context of Genesis 25:27
25The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. 26After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. 28Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.
Read all of Genesis 25Genesis 25:27 word by word
וַֽיִּגְדְּלוּ֙ הַנְּעָרִ֔ים וַיְהִ֣י עֵשָׂ֗ו אִ֛ישׁ יֹדֵ֥עַ צַ֖יִד אִ֣ישׁ שָׂדֶ֑ה וְיַעֲקֹב֙ אִ֣ישׁ תָּ֔ם יֹשֵׁ֖ב אֹהָלִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the boysנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- grewגָּדַלgâdal · to magnifyH1431
- and Esauעֵשָׂו‛êώâv · EsauH6215
- was a cunningיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- hunterצַ֫יִדtsayid · wild gameH6718
- a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- of the fieldשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
- and Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- a plainתָּםtâm · completeH8535
- dwellingיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- in tentsאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168
Cross-references for Genesis 25:27
- Genesis 10:9He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.”
- Genesis 21:20God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer.
- Genesis 27:3Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me.
- Genesis 6:9This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.
- Genesis 28:10Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran.
- Genesis 31:39I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night.
- Genesis 46:34you should answer, ‘Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”
- Job 1:1In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.
- Job 2:3Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”
- Psalms 37:37Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.
- Hebrews 11:9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
Commentaries on Genesis 25:27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27A man of the field - שדה איש ish sadeh, one who supported himself and family by hunting and by agriculture. Jacob was a plain man - תם איש ish tam, a perfect or upright man; dwelling in tents - subsisting by breeding and tending cattle, which was considered in those early times the most perfect employment; and in this sense the word תם tam, should be here understood, as in its moral meaning it certainly could not be applied to Jacob till after his name…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19-34Verses 19-34 - LIII. Birth of Esau and Jacob 20. פדן padān Paddan, “plowed field;” related: “cut, plow.” 25. עשׂי ‛êśâv Esaw, “hairy, or made.” 26. יעקב ya‛ăqôb Ja‘aqob, “he shall take the heel.” 27. תם tām “perfect, peaceful, plain.” The epithet refers to disposition, and contrasts the comparatively civilized character of Jacob with the rude temper of Esau. 30. אדים 'ědôm Edom, “red.” The ninth document here begins with the usual phrase, and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 27-28Verses 27-28 Esau hunted the beasts of the field with dexterity and success, till he became a conqueror, ruling over his neighbours. Jacob was a plain man, one that liked the true delights of retirement, better than all pretended pleasures. He was a stranger and a pilgrim in his spirit, and a shepherd all his days. Isaac and Rebekah had but these two children, one was the father's darling, and the other the mother's. And though godly parents must feel…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 27Esau became a skilled hunter, a man of the field: He was a wild man who enjoyed the wild country. Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home (literally a mature/perfect man dwelling in tents): He lived in tents and had good manners.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2727. the boys grew--from the first, opposite to each other in character, manners, and habits.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 25:27
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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