King James Version

Genesis 25:27

And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

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Hebrew

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וַֽיִּגְדְּלוּ֙vayigdelvand beגָּדַלconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “and be”, the next action in the storyH1431to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax), great(-er, come to... estate, [phrase] things), grow(up), increase, lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly (spoken), towe…הַנְּעָרִ֔יםhanarimthe boyנַעַרdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “the boy”, the ordinary formH5288(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man).וַיְהִ֣יvayhiand beהָיָהconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and be”, the next action in the storyH1961to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use.עֵשָׂ֗וesavEsauעֵשָׂוnoun, proper name — “Esau”H6215Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterityEsau.אִ֛ישׁisha certainאִישׁnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “a certain”, the ordinary formH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…יֹדֵ֥עַyodeaknowיָדַעverb, qal, participle, absolute — “know”, a verb used as a describing wordH3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with…צַ֖יִדtsayidfoodצַיִדnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “food”, the ordinary formH6718the chase; also game (thus taken); (generally) lunch (especially for a journey)[idiom] catcheth, food, [idiom] hunter, (that which he took in) hunting, venison, victuals.אִ֣ישׁisha certainאִישׁnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “a certain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…שָׂדֶ֑הsadehfieldשָׂדֶהnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “field”, the ordinary formH7704a field (as flat)country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild.וְיַעֲקֹב֙veyaaqovand Jacobיַעֲקֹבconjunction, noun, proper name — “and Jacob”H3290Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarchJacob.אִ֣ישׁisha certainאִישׁnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “a certain”, the ordinary formH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…תָּ֔םtamcoupled togetherתָּםadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “coupled together”, the ordinary formH8535complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically, gentle, dearcoupled together, perfect, plain, undefiled, upright.יֹשֵׁ֖בyoshevdwellיָשַׁבverb, qal, participle, absolute — “dwell”, a verb used as a describing wordH3427properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry(make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, r…אֹהָלִֽיםohalimtentאֹהֶלnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “tent”, the ordinary formH168a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

And the boys grew: and Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.

Young’s Literal Translation

And the youths grew, and Esau is a man acquainted [with] hunting, a man of the field; and Jacob [is] a plain man, inhabiting tents;

World English Bible

The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.

Darby Translation

And the boys grew, and Esau became a man skilled in hunting, a man of the field; and Jacob was a homely man, dwelling in tents.

Douay-Rheims

And when they were grown up, Esau became a skillful hunter, and a husbandman, but Jacob a plain man dwelt in tents.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

And the lads grew, and Esau was a man skilled in hunting, dwelling in the country, and Jacob a simple man, dwelling in a house.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ηὐξήθησαν δὲ οἱ νεανίσκοι· καὶ ἦν Ἡσαῦ ἄνθρωπος εἰδὼς κυνηγεῖν, ἄγροικος· Ἰακὼβ δὲ ἄνθρωπος ἄπλαστος, οἰκῶν οἰκίαν.