Plain; Plainly - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

PLAIN; PLAINLY

plan, plan'-li:

In Genesis 25:27, the King James Version "plain" represents tam. If a contrast between the vocations of Jacob and Esau is meant, the Revised Version (British and American) ("quiet," margin "harmless") may be right. But elsewhere (Job 1:1; Psalms 37:37, etc.) the word means "perfect," and so probably here; the failings of the great patriarch did not detract from the general estimate of him (Matthew 8:11). In Ezra 4:18 "translated" (Revised Version margin) is better than "plainly read."

Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'PLAIN; PLAINLY'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.