Genesis 25:27

27 The boys grew; and 'Esav became a skillful hunter, an outdoorsman; while Ya'akov was a quiet man who stayed in the tents.

Genesis 25:27 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 25:27

And the boys grew
In stature, became strong and fit for business, and betook themselves to different employments: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field:
whose business lay in tilling and sowing it, which his father Isaac followed sometimes; or rather he chose to range about the field and hunt after beasts and birds, in which he was very expert, and contrived traps and snares to catch them in; and this course of life was most agreeable to his temper and disposition, being active, fierce, and cruel; according to the Targum of Jonathan, he was also a hunter and slayer of men, Nimrod and Henoch his son: and Jacob was a plain man;
an honest plain hearted man, whose heart and tongue went together; a quiet man, that gave no disturbance to others; a godly man, sincere, upright, and perfect, that had the truth of grace and holiness in him, as well as the perfect righteousness of his Redeemer on him: dwelling in tents;
keeping at home and attending the business of the family, as we afterwards find him boiling pottage, ( Genesis 25:29 ) ; or rather this denotes his pastoral life, being a shepherd, he dwelt in tents, which could be removed from place to place for the convenience of pasturage: Jarchi's note is,

``in the tent of Shem and in the tent of Eber;''

agreeably to the Targum of Jonathan,

``a minister in the school of Shem, seeking doctrine from the Lord;''

a student there, where he resided awhile, in order to be instructed in the doctrines of truth and righteousness.

Genesis 25:27 In-Context

25 The first to come out was reddish and covered all over with hair, like a coat; so they named him 'Esav [completely formed, that is, having hair already].

26 Then his brother emerged, with his hand holding 'Esav's heel, so he was called Ya'akov [he catches by the heel, he supplants]. Yitz'chak was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 The boys grew; and 'Esav became a skillful hunter, an outdoorsman; while Ya'akov was a quiet man who stayed in the tents.

28 Yitz'chak favored 'Esav, because he had a taste for game; Rivkah favored Ya'akov.

29 One day when Ya'akov had cooked some stew, 'Esav came in from the open country, exhausted,