Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

“O John: hold thou fast the Writ!” And We gave him judgment when a child,

يَا يَحْيٰى خُذِ الْكِتَابَ بِقُوَّةٍۜ وَاٰتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِياًّۙ
Ya yahya khuthialkitaba biquwwatin waataynahu alhukmasabiyya
#wordmeaningroot
1yāyaḥyāO Yahya
2khudhiHoldاخذ
3l-kitābathe Scriptureكتب
4biquwwatinwith strengthقوي
5waātaynāhuAnd We gave himاتي
6l-ḥuk'ma[the] wisdomحكم
7ṣabiyyan(when he was) a childصبو
  • Aisha Bewley

    ‘Yahya, take hold of the Book with vigour. ’ We gave him judgement while still a child,

  • Progressive Muslims

    "O John, take the Scripture with confidence. " And We gave him authority while in his youth.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (John was born according to the good news. ) We told him "O Yahya! Hold fast the Scripture." And We had granted him wisdom and good judgment when he was yet a little boy.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    “O John: hold thou fast the Writ!” And We gave him judgment when a child,

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    "O John, take the Book with confidence." And We gave him authority while in his youth.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    "O John, take the book with confidence." We gave him authority while in his youth.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    "O John, you shall uphold the scripture, strongly." We endowed him with wisdom, even in his youth.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    (We said:) "O John, hold fast to the Book;" and We gave him wisdom right from boyhood,

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    said, "O John, take the Scripture with determination. " And We gave him judgement a boy

  • Muhammad Asad

    "O John! Hold fast unto the divine writ with strength!" - for We granted him wisdom "while he was yet a little boy,

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    (And it was said unto his son): O John! Hold fast the Scripture. And we gave him wisdom when a child,

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    "O John! Hold the Book with all your strength."* We had bestowed wisdom upon him while he was still a child;*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    "O Yahya", he was told, "take the Book AL-Tawrah (the Torah) adhere to all that We have imparted to you and observe the code of discipline and body of regulations and hold them in esteem and hold to your promise and pay attention. Regard to it and be mindful of Our commandments", and We imbued him with wisdom in his childhood.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    I ordered Zechariah’s son: "John, you shall observe the laws (as revealed in the Scripture) with the utmost respect. " Evan as a child I blessed John with wisdom.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    (It was said to his son): "O Yahyâ (John)! Hold fast the Scripture ." And We gave him wisdom while yet a child.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    (To his son came the command): "O Yahya! take hold of the Book with might": and We gave him Wisdom even as a youth,

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    ˹It was later said,˺ "O John! Hold firmly to the Scriptures." And We granted him wisdom while ˹he was still˺ a child,

  • Taqi Usmani

    (When the child was born, Allah said to him,) "O YaHyā, hold on to the Book firmly." And We gave him wisdom, while he was still a child,

  • Abdul Haleem

    , ‘John, hold on to the Scripture firmly.’ While he was still a boy, We granted him wisdom,

  • Arthur John Arberry

    'O John, take the Book forcefully'; and We gave him judgment, yet a little child,

  • E. Henry Palmer

    'O John! take the Book with strength;' and we gave him judgment when a boy,

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Then he went forth unto his people from the chamber, and he made signs to them, "Glorify your Lord at break of day and fall of night. "

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    "O Yahya, (John) take the Book powerfully. " And We brought him judgment (when) a young boy,

  • George Sale

    And We said unto his son, O John, receive the book of the law, with a resolution to study and observe it. And We bestowed on him wisdom, when he was yet a child,

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    (To his son came Allah's command), "O Yahya (John)! Hold on to the Book with strength": And even as (he was) a youth, We gave him Wisdom,

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (We said to John, ) `Yahyâ! hold fast the (divine) Book. ' And while he was yet a child We gave him wisdom,

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    ‘O John!’ ‘Hold on with power to the Book!’ And We gave him judgement while still a child,