Quranic root
شرح
sh · r · ḥ
The root centers on opening, spreading, and making something apparent; its communicative extension is clarification and exposition.
The semantic orientation is described from spreading or cutting meat, developing into opening or laying things bare, explaining what is obscure, and, in Quranic usage, expanding the breast for receptivity.
- Maqāyīs · row 2611
- Mufradāt · row 757
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 5
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
شَرَحَ
sharaḥa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 5 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To open or expand the breast, making it receptive to a matter.
Used in the Quranic chest or breast construction for receptivity and acceptance, including receptivity to Islam or truth and, in 16:106, to disbelief. The same sense may be rendered as “open,” “expand,” or “dilate.”
- Lane · entry 38240
- Mufradāt · row 757
Selected Quran examples
Quran 20:25word 3
“Expand”
Quran 16:106word 15
“opens”
Quran 39:22word 2
“Allah has expanded”
Quran 94:1word 2
“We expanded”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 6:125يَشْرَحْHe expands
- 16:106شَرَحَopens
- 20:25ٱشْرَحْExpand
- 39:22شَرَحَAllah has expanded
- 94:1نَشْرَحْWe expanded
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 23 Classical meanings
شَرَحَ
To uncover, lay open, expose, display, reveal, or disclose something.
Used of making a thing visible or an affair apparent.
- Lane · entry 38240
شَرَحَ
To explain, expound, interpret, or make clear an affair, question, obscure matter, tradition, or discourse.
An explanatory and interpretive use applied to matters whose meaning is hidden or requires clarification.
- Lane · entry 38240
شَرَحَ
To open, widen, or dilate a thing.
A general physical opening or expansion use, distinct from the Quranic chest construction.
- Lane · entry 38240
شَرَحَ
To deflower or have sexual intercourse.
A sexual construction describing intercourse or defloration.
- Lane · entry 38240
شَرَحَ
To manifest desire or become expansive in one's desire toward something.
A figurative construction expressing eagerness or strong desire.
- Lane · entry 38240
شَرَحَ
To cut flesh-meat lengthwise or into thin oblong slices.
The lexical descriptions also include cutting meat from a joint or on the bone; the related Form II can indicate cutting it into many such pieces.
- Lane · entry 38240
شَرَحَ
To understand speech or language.
A use describing comprehension rather than explanation.
- Lane · entry 38240
شَرْحٌ
Keeping, preserving, or guarding.
A specialized use particularly associated with guarding seed-produce from birds.
- Lane · entry 38240
شَرَّحَ
To expound, explain, or interpret language or discourse thoroughly.
The intensive Form II expression is used for detailed exposition.
- Lane · entry 38241
شَرَّحَ
To dissect or anatomize a body.
A technical physical use of the intensive form.
- Lane · entry 38241
اِنْشَرَحَ
For the breast or bosom to become expanded and receptive.
The inchoative or reflexive construction may describe expansion with joy or receptivity to Islam.
- Lane · entry 38242
اِسْتَشْرَحَ
To ask for language or discourse to be expounded, explained, or interpreted.
A request for someone to provide an explanation.
- Lane · entry 38243
اِسْتَشْرَحَ
To ask for flesh-meat to be cut in the manner called شَرْح.
A request construction referring to the preparation of meat in slices.
- Lane · entry 38243
شَرْحٌ
A full exposition, explanation, or running commentary on a work.
A technical literary term for a commentary covering the text as a whole, distinguished from a حاشية that comments on particular words or passages.
- Lane · entry 38244
شَرْحَةٌ
A piece or thin slice of flesh-meat cut into an oblong form.
The term can denote meat prepared in the cutting manner called شَرْح.
- Lane · entry 38245
شَرَاحٌ
The discovery, disclosure, or explanation of an affair.
Used as a noun for making an affair known or intelligible.
- Lane · entry 38246
شَرِيحٌ
A cut of flesh-meat, especially one cut into oblong slices.
An attributive or nominal description of meat prepared by slicing.
- Lane · entry 38247
شُرَيْحٌ
The vulva.
An anatomical noun, also recorded as a proper name for the same organ.
- Lane · entry 38248
شَرِيحَةٌ
A cut piece or thin slice of flesh-meat, including an extended piece of fatty meat.
The plural is شَرَائِحُ; the term denotes meat cut into slices.
- Lane · entry 38249
شَارِحٌ
An expositor, explainer, or interpreter of a book or similar work.
An active-participial noun for a person who provides explanation or interpretation.
- Lane · entry 38250
شَارِحٌ
A keeper or guardian.
A dialectal specialization, particularly in Yemen, for a guardian of seed-produce from birds.
- Lane · entry 38250
مَشْرَحٌ
The anus.
The cited lexical description specifies the lower opening of a man.
- Lane · entry 38251
مَشْرُوحٌ
A mirage.
A separate nominal usage, with مَسْرُوحٌ recorded as a dialectal variant.
- Lane · entry 38252
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
All five Quranic occurrences are Form I uses in a chest or breast construction; the broader Classical meanings are not additional Quranic senses.
The older citation notation associated with the Lane chest discussion is not used as a modern verse locator; Quran locations here follow secure QAC locations and the explicitly supplied Quran-focused evidence.