ZH_zh_obs-tn/content/07/01.md

As the boys grew up, Jacob loved to stay at home, but Esau loved to hunt animals

This is background information telling how the boys were different from each other, and that their parents each favored one child over the other. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background)

loved to stay at home…loved to hunt

Some languages will use a word for love here that is different from the one used for, “Rebekah loved Jacob.” For example, this could be translated as: “liked to stay at home…liked to hunt” or “preferred to stay at home…preferred to hunt.”

at home

This expression refers to the area around the family dwellings. Jacob preferred to stay close to the tents where they lived. Some languages have a special expression for at home.

but Esau loved to hunt animals

The connecting word but contrasts Esau’s love of hunting with Jacob’s love of staying home. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast)

Rebekah loved Jacob, but Isaac loved Esau

This could be translated as: “Rebekah was more fond of Jacob, and Isaac was more fond of Esau.” This does not necessarily mean that Rebekah and Isaac did not love the other son, but that each parent had a favorite.

but Isaac loved Esau

The connecting word but contrasts Isaac’s love of Esau with Rebekah’s love of Jacob. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast)