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Genesis 25:27
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.
NIV 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.
NASB When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a civilized man, living in tents.
CSB When the boys grew up, Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman, but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.
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.
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.

What does Genesis 25:27 mean?

Leaping forward from their birth, Scripture now describes the kind of men Esau and Jacob become. In both personality and interest, they are wildly different. Esau is a hunter, an outdoorsman. Great hunters were often seen as heroic figures in this era. The ability to hunt not only meant an ability to provide for one's family, it was also an indirect sign of being proficient with weapons—making such a person a more capable warrior than other men.

Jacob, on the other hand, became a quiet man. He liked to stay in the tents and, apparently, do indoor things. Perhaps Jacob was an introvert. As we'll see in the next verse, their personalities helped to determine their relationship with each of their parents.

Unfortunately, it becomes clear that the relationships they hold are imbalanced. There is a clear issue of favoritism at work, and it leads to serious problems in the family (Genesis 27:30–35). It also, seemingly, shapes Jacob's own parenting style, though not for the better (Genesis 37:1–4).
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