Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

“Joseph, O man of truth: advise thou us concerning the seven fat cows which seven lean were eating, and the seven green ears of corn and others withered, that I might return to the people, that they might know.”

يُوسُفُ اَيُّهَا الصِّدّ۪يقُ اَفْتِنَا ف۪ي سَبْعِ بَقَرَاتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعِ سُنْبُلَاتٍ خُضْرٍ وَاُخَرَ يَابِسَاتٍۙ لَعَلّ۪ٓي اَرْجِعُ اِلَى النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
Yoosufu ayyuha assiddeequaftina fee sabAAi baqaratin simaninya/kuluhunna sabAAun AAijafun wasabAAi sunbulatinkhudrin waokhara yabisatin laAAallee arjiAAuila annasi laAAallahum yaAAlamoon
#wordmeaningroot
1yūsufuYusuf
2ayyuhāO
3l-ṣidīquthe truthful oneصدق
4aftināExplain to usفتي
5about
6sabʿi(the) sevenسبع
7baqarātincowsبقر
8simāninfatسمن
9yakuluhunnaeating themاكل
10sabʿunsevenسبع
11ʿijāfunlean onesعجف
12wasabʿiand sevenسبع
13sunbulātinears (of corn)سنبل
14khuḍ'ringreenخضر
15wa-ukharaand otherاخر
16yābisātindryيبس
17laʿallīthat I may
18arjiʿureturnرجع
19ilāto
20l-nāsithe peopleنوس
21laʿallahumso that they may
22yaʿlamūnaknowعلم
  • Aisha Bewley

    ‘O truthful Yusuf, tell us of seven fat cows which seven thin ones ate and seven green ears of wheat and seven others which were dry so that I can return to them and let them know. ’

  • Progressive Muslims

    "Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us the matter regarding seven fat cows being eaten by seven thin ones, and seven green pods and others which are dry Then perhaps I may go back to the people so they will know. "

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    He said, "Joseph! O you truthful one! Explain for us the seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean ones, and the seven green spikes of wheat and others dry. I wish to go back with information that they may know" (the interpretation and your value).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    “Joseph, O man of truth: advise thou us concerning the seven fat cows which seven lean were eating, and the seven green ears of corn and others withered, that I might return to the people, that they might know.”

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    "Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us the matter regarding seven fat cows being eaten by seven thin ones, and seven green pods and others which are dry? Then perhaps I may go back to the people so they will know."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    "Joseph, O truth one, explain to us the matter regarding seven fat cows being eaten by seven thin ones, and seven green pods and others which are dry? Then perhaps I may go back to the people so they will know."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    "Joseph my friend, inform us about seven fat cows being devoured by seven skinny cows, and seven green spikes, and others shriveled. I wish to go back with some information for the people."

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    (And coming to the prison) he said: "O Joseph the truthful, tell us (the meaning of) seven fat cows being devoured by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of corn and seven seared, that I may go back to the people and tell them. "

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

    , "Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten by seven lean, and seven green spikes and others dry - that I may return to the people; perhaps they will know . "

  • Muhammad Asad

    "Joseph, O thou truthful one! Enlighten us about seven fat cows were being devoured by seven emaciated ones, and seven green ears next to others that were withered - so that I may return unto the people that they may come to know !"

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    (And when he came to Joseph in the prison, he exclaimed): Joseph! O thou truthful one! Expound for us the seven fat kine which seven lean were eating and the seven green ears of corn and other (seven) dry, that I may return unto the people, so that they may know.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Then he went to Joseph and said to him: "Joseph, O truthfulness incarnate,* tell the true meaning of the dream in which seven fat cows are devoured by seven lean ones; and there are seven green ears of corn and seven others dry and withered so that I may return to the people and they may learn."*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    He asked: "Yusuf; O man of righteousness and truth, reveal to us this dream and what it prefigures: Seven fat cows were eaten by seven lean and emaciated ones, and seven green ears of corn together with seven dry ones. " " Give me your opinion so that I go back to the people and inform them of what they should expect."

  • Bijan Moeinian

    "Joseph! O man of truth. " (he said) “What is the interpretation of this dream of seven fat cows devouring seven skinny ones and the seven green ears of corn and seven dry ears of corn? Let me know so that I explain it to my people.”

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    (He said): "O Yûsuf (Joseph), the man of truth! Explain to us (the dream) of seven fat cows whom seven lean ones were devouring, and of seven green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry, that I may return to the people, and that they may know."

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    "O Joseph!" (he said) "O man of truth! Expound to us (the dream) of seven fat kine whom seven lean ones devour, and of seven green ears of corn and (seven) others withered: that I may return to the people, and that they may understand."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    ˹He said,˺ "Joseph, O  man of truth! Interpret for us ˹the dream of˺ seven fat cows eaten up by seven skinny ones; and seven green ears of grain and ˹seven˺ others dry, so that I may return to the people and let them know."

  • Taqi Usmani

    (Thus he came to the prison and said to Yūsuf "Yūsuf, O the truthful one, tell us about seven fat cows eaten by seven lean ones, and seven ears of grain which are green and (seven) others which are dry, so that I may go back to the people and they may know (the interpretation of the dream.)"

  • Abdul Haleem

    ‘Truthful Joseph! Tell us the meaning of seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean ones, seven green ears of corn and others withered,

  • Arthur John Arberry

    'Joseph, thou true man, pronounce to us regarding seven fat kine, that seven lean ones were devouring, seven green ears of corn, and seven withered; haply I shall return to the men, haply they will know. '

  • E. Henry Palmer

    'Joseph! O thou truth teller! explain to us the seven fat kine which seven lean devoured; and the seven green ears of corn and others dry. Haply I may go back to the men, haply they then may know!'

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Then he of the twain who had escaped, remembered after a while, and said, "Verily, I will inform you of the interpretation thereof, so send me forth. "

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    "Yûsuf, (Joseph) O you (man) constantly sincere, pronounce to us regarding seven plump cows which seven lean ones were eating, and seven green ears (of grain) and (seven) others dry, that possibly I would return to (all) people that possibly they would know. "

  • George Sale

    And he went to the prison, and said, O Joseph, thou man of veracity, teach us the interpretation of seven fat kine, which seven lean kine devourd, and of seven green ears of corn; and other seven withered ears, which the king saw in his dream; that I may return unto the men who have sent me, that peradventure they may understand the same.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    (The man from the prison said:) "O Yusuf (Joseph)! O man of truth! Explain to us (the dream) of seven fat cows whom seven lean ones eat up, and of seven green ears of corn and others dry: That I may go back to the people, and that they may know (and understand the meaning of the dream). "

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (So he went to Joseph in the prison and exclaimed, ) `Joseph, you, the man of truth, explain to us the (real) significance of (a dream in which) seven fat kine which seven lean ones devour; and (of) seven green ears of corn and as many others withered, so that I may return to the people and they may know (the interpretation and thereby your exalted position). '

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    ‘Joseph, ’ , ‘O truthful one, give us your opinion concerning seven fat cows who are eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears and others dry, that I may return to the people so that they may know . ’