Philoxenus of Mabbug : And the history of Jacob and Esau testifieth. "Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field, and Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in a tent," and from their works we are able to understand the difference of their characters. In all places the Scriptures call Esau cunning and crafty, and one who layeth up anger, and keepeth wrath. And Jacob appeareth as the opposite of this in everything, whether as regardeth his parents, or the house of Laban, for by his deeds he is shewn to us to be a simple and obedient man. And for this reason the Holy Book sheweth us all his simplicity in one word: "Jacob was a simple man dwelling in a tent." And, moreover, by reason of his simplicity he would never have meditated the stealing of the birthright unless his mother Rebecca had taught him; but when he heard of the matter which would help him he was persuaded in the simplicity of his mind and was not stubborn. — 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity Augustine of Hippo : ON THESE WORDS: JACOB WAS A SIMPLE MAN. — Jacob was a simple man, living in a house . What the Greek text qualifies as απλαστος, some Latins translated it as simplicem (simple). But απλαστος accurately means "sincere." For this reason, some Latin translators translated that word “ sine dolo ” (without deceit), giving the phrase the following meaning: “Jacob was a man without deceit, who lived at home.” Hence arises the great problem of knowing how the blessing received through a deception was considered for a man without deception. The answer is that Scripture anticipated this to mean something great. Therefore, we are totally obliged to understand something spiritual in this passage, because it was a man without deception who acted with deceit. I have sufficiently developed, in a sermon addressed to the people, my feeling on this subject (Cf. Serm. 4.16). [ — QUESTIONS ON GENESIS, Q. 73 (tr. J. Litteral, draft)