Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And they sold him for a low price — a few dirhams — and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.

وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ دَرَاهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍۚ وَكَانُوا ف۪يهِ مِنَ الزَّاهِد۪ينَ۟
Washarawhu bithamanin bakhsin darahimamaAAdoodatin wakanoo feehi mina azzahideen
#wordmeaningroot
1washarawhuAnd they sold himشري
2bithamaninfor a priceثمن
3bakhsinvery lowبخس
4darāhimadirhamsدرهم
5maʿdūdatinfewعدد
6wakānūand they wereكون
7fīhiabout him
8minaof
9l-zāhidīnathose keen to give upزهد
  • Aisha Bewley

    They sold him for a pittance, a few small coins, considering him to be of little worth.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And they sold him for a low price, a few silver coins, and they regarded him as insignificant.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    They sold him in the market for a low price, a few silver coins. His value they knew not.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And they sold him for a low price — a few dirhams — and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Andthey sold him for a low price, a few coins of silver, and they regarded him as insignificant.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    They sold him for a low price, a few silver coins, and they regarded him as insignificant.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    They sold him for a cheap price - a few dirhams - for they did not have any need for him.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    And they sold him as worthless for a few paltry dirham.

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

    And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.

  • Muhammad Asad

    And they sold him for a paltry price - a mere few silver coins: thus low did they value him.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And they sold him for a low price, a number of silver coins; and they attached no value to him.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Later they sold him for a paltry sum - just a few dirhams; they did not care to obtain a higher price.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    They sold him to a slave-dealer for a small price amounting to a small number of silver coins, and they had no interest in him.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Eventually they sold him for a cheap price as they did not have any need for him.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And they sold him for a low price - for a few Dirhams (i.e. for a few silver coins). And they were of those who regarded him insignificant.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    The (Brethren) sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him!

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    They ˹later˺ sold him for a cheap price, just a few silver coins—only wanting to get rid of him. 

  • Taqi Usmani

    And they sold him for a paltry price, for a few silver-coins, and they had not much interest in him.

  • Abdul Haleem

    and then sold him for a small price, for a few pieces of silver: so little did they value him.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Then they sold him for a paltry price, a handful of counted dirhams; for they set small store by him.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    And they sold him for a mean price, - drachmae counted out,- and they parted with him cheaply.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And a caravan of travellers came and sent their water-drawer. He let down his bucket into the pit. Said he, "What good luck! Here is a youth." So they concealed him, as a treasure, and Allah was Aware of what they did.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And they bartered him for a paltry price, (some) numbered dirhams; and they esteemed him lightly (Literally: were of the ascetics, i. e., refused to have anything to do him)

  • George Sale

    And they sold him for a mean price, for a few pence, and valued him lightly.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And the (travelers) sold him for a low price— For a few dirhams (that were) counted out: They were those who held him in such a low value!

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And they (- the brothers of Joseph) sold him, (claiming him to be their slave, to the travellers) for a trifling price - a few dirhams (- silver coins), and they were not (even) desirous of it.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    And they sold him for a cheap price, a few dirhams, for they set small store by him.