And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob [was] a plain man, dwelling in tents.
Ver. 27. And the boys grew.] Nature, art, grace, all proceed from less perfect to more perfect. "Grow in grace," saith Peter: 2Pe 3:18 grow "unto a perfect man," even "unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ," saith Paul. Eph 4:13
And Esau was a cunning hunter.] Like Nimrod and Ishmael, whom he chose to imitate, rather than Abraham, and those holy patriarchs that had lived before him.
A plain man.] Sept., Aπλαστος, without welt or gard, guile or gall. Gregory hereby notes the diverse dispositions of worldly and godly men.