Genesis 25:25-27

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 25:19-28

We have here an account of the birth of Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah: their entrance into the world was (which is not usual) one of the most considerable parts of their story; nor is much related concerning Isaac but what had reference to his father while he lived and to his sons afterwards. For Isaac seems not to have been a man of action, nor much tried, but to have spent his days in quietness and silence. Now concerning Jacob and Esau we are here told, I. That they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:25

And the first came out red ,.... Either his body, or rather the hair it was covered with, red; which was a sign, as Jarchi observes, that he would be a shedder of blood, fierce and cruel as were he and his posterity: all over like an hairy garment ; his body was all over full of hair, which stood as thick as a garment made of hair, and was a sign of the roughness of his disposition, as well as of the strength of his body: and they called his name Esau ; his parents, and those present... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:26

And after that came his brother out ,.... Out of his mother's womb, either by his own strength, or by the help of the midwife: and his hand took hold on Esau's heel ; to pluck him back and get out first; and this was not casual, but was so ordered in Providence, and had a meaning and mystery in it: and his name was called Jacob ; by his parents and others, and that for the above reason, because he took his brother by the heel, which his name has the signification of, and Esau has... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:25

Red, all over like a hairy garment - This simply means that he was covered all over with red hair or down; and that this must be intended here is sufficiently evident from another part of his history, where Rebekah, in order to make her favourite son Jacob pass for his brother Esau, was obliged to take the skins of kids, and put them upon his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. They called his name Esau - It is difficult to assign the proper meaning of the original עשו esau or ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:26

His name was called Jacob - יעקב Yaccob , from עקב akab , to defraud, deceive, to supplant, i.e., to overthrow a person by tripping up his heels. Hence this name was given to Jacob, because it was found he had laid hold on his brother's heel, which was emblematical of his supplanting Esau, and defrauding him of his birthright. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:27

A 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 was changed, after... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:27

Verse 27 27.And the boys grew. Moses now briefly describes the manners of them both. He does not, indeed, commend Jacob on account of those rare and excellent qualities, which are especially worthy of praise and of remembrance, but only says that he was simple. The word תם (tam,) although generally taken for upright and sincere, is here put antithetically. After the sacred writer has stated that Esau was robust, and addicted to hunting, he places on the opposite side the mild disposition of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 25:19-26

The childless pair. I. THE DISAPPOINTED HUSBAND . 1. The grievous affliction . Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, was barren. Though neither uncommon nor unjust, this was to Isaac 2. The earnest intercession . "Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife." Isaac's supplication was 3. The gracious response . "The Lord was entreated of Isaac, and Rebekah conceived. Note the character of God as the Hearer of prayer, the habitual practice of God, which is to listen to his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 25:19-34

Divine purposes unfolded. We are now entering a new stage of the sacred history, where we are looking less upon the development of one man's character than upon the unfolding purposes of Jehovah in the family with which he has made his covenant. Again we are in the region of— 1. Gracious interposition . 2. Supernatural assistance of human infirmity . 3. Prophetic announcements . The atmosphere is that of the covenant. The children in the womb are two nations. The... read more

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