Quranic root
حبر
ḥ · b · r
The root centers on a perceptible trace or effect of beauty, adornment, and well-being.
From the effect of beauty and splendor come meanings connected with beautifying writing, speech, and objects; visible marks or complexion; ink as a means of beautifying writing; scholars as those whose learning leaves lasting traces; and joy manifested in a person's appearance. Other lexical branches extend to patterned cloth, scars, and abundant clouds.
- Maqāyīs · row 1277
- Mufradāt · row 288
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 6
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
حَبَرَ
ḥabara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 2 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 be made happy and honored, enjoying ease and plenty.
Quranic usage is in the imperfect passive: the recipients are brought into joy, well-being, and honor, with the effect of their happiness apparent in them.
- Lane · entry 13262
- Mufradāt · row 288
Selected Quran examples
Quran 30:15word 9
“will be delighted”
To be delighted by the pleasures of Paradise, including sweet melody or musical entertainment.
This is an explicitly reported Quranic interpretation of the passive construction, presenting the delight as an experience of Paradise rather than merely an inward emotional state.
- Lane · entry 13271
Selected Quran examples
Quran 43:70word 5
“delighted”
حِبْرٌ
ḥibrun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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.
A religious scholar or learned authority; in the Quran, a scholar or rabbi among the People of the Scripture.
The Quranic form is the plural أَحْبَارُ and its inflected forms. The usage concerns religious authorities whose learning and example carry influence among their communities.
- Lane · entry 13265
- Mufradāt · row 288
Selected Quran examples
Quran 5:44word 15
“and the scholars”
Quran 9:31word 2
“their rabbis”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 5:44وَٱلْأَحْبَارُand the scholars
- 5:63وَٱلْأَحْبَارُand the religious scholars
- 9:31أَحْبَارَهُمْtheir rabbis
- 9:34ٱلْأَحْبَارِthe rabbis
- 30:15يُحْبَرُونَwill be delighted
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 33 Classical meanings
حَبَرَ
To make beautiful, adorn, embellish, or make clear; applied to writing, poetry, speech, language, pronunciation, or recitation.
The object may be verbal, written, or artistic; the sense includes improving its form and making it pleasing or intelligible.
- Lane · entry 13262
حَبَرَ
To make someone or something happy, joyful, at ease, or honored.
This is the active use corresponding to the passive Quranic form; the subject may be God, a person, or an event.
- Lane · entry 13262
حُبِرَ جِلْدُهُ
For the skin to be beaten so that a mark of the beating remains.
This is a specialized resultative construction concerning a visible mark on the skin.
- Lane · entry 13262
حَبِرَ
For a wound to break out afresh, or to heal while leaving scars.
The alternatives describe the course or residual effect of the wound rather than a general meaning of happiness.
- Lane · entry 13262
حَبِرَ
For the teeth to become yellow, especially with yellowness mingled with their whiteness.
The term is also connected with the lexical description of yellowing or discoloration of the teeth.
- Lane · entry 13262
- Lane · entry 13270
حَبَّرَ
To pare or finish an arrow well.
This is a technical use concerning the careful preparation of an arrow.
- Lane · entry 13263
أَحْبَرَ
To leave a mark on a person or thing; of a blow, to mark the skin.
The construction may take a person, an object, or the skin as the bearer of the mark.
- Lane · entry 13264
حِبْرٌ
A learned religious man, including a religious authority among Jewish, Christian, or Sabean communities.
This broader Classical usage is not restricted to the Quranic occurrence among Jewish religious scholars.
- Lane · entry 13265
حِبْرٌ
A person skilled in beautifying or refining language.
This is a specialized personal designation derived from the root's association with adornment and excellence of expression.
- Lane · entry 13265
حِبْرٌ
A good or righteous man.
This is a Classical personal usage distinct from the occupational sense of religious scholar.
- Lane · entry 13265
حِبْرٌ
Ink used for writing.
The word is explained as connected with beautifying and clarifying writing and with the marks made by ink.
- Lane · entry 13266
حِبْرٌ
Variegation or figured patterning of cloth; a patterned fabric.
This is a textile sense, distinct from ink and from the personal designation for a scholar.
- Lane · entry 13266
حِبْرٌ
A visible mark of ease and plenty; hence beauty, good appearance, or complexion.
The term can denote the outward effect of well-being or the pleasing aspect that satisfies the eye.
- Lane · entry 13266
- Lane · entry 13271
- Lane · entry 13282
حِبْرٌ
A mark or trace left by beating, a healed wound, work, or labor.
The mark may be physical or the visible evidence of exertion; it need not be a mark of beauty.
- Lane · entry 13266
حِبْرٌ
A like, equal, or fellow.
This is a separate nominal comparison sense.
- Lane · entry 13266
حِبَرَةٌ
A striped or variegated garment of Yemeni fabric, traditionally of cotton or linen.
The word may also be used in a construction describing a garment as being of this patterned fabric.
- Lane · entry 13274
حِبْرِيٌّ
A seller of ink.
This is an occupational derivative from حِبْرٌ in the sense of ink.
- Lane · entry 13276
حِبَرِيٌّ
A seller of garments called حِبَرٌ.
This occupational term is connected with the textile sense, not with ink.
- Lane · entry 13277
حُبْرُورٌ
A young bustard.
The term is also associated with the male or young bird in related lexical usage.
- Lane · entry 13278
حَبَرْبَرٌ
Anything at all; in the negative expression, nothing.
This is a rare lexicalized expression reported as an exceptional branch of the root.
- Maqāyīs · row 1277
حُبُورٌ
Happiness, joy, gladness, ease, plenty, or ampleness of life's circumstances.
The term may emphasize cheerful delight or the broader condition of complete well-being and prosperity.
- Lane · entry 13284
حَبِيرٌ
A variegated or striped garment or cloth; by extension, a new, soft, or fine piece of cloth.
The word may also occur in figurative expressions using a garment as an image of cheerfulness.
- Lane · entry 13285
حَبِيرٌ
Clouds, especially clouds described as spotted or abundant in water.
The description of spotted clouds is attributed in the lexical evidence to one account and rejected by another.
- Lane · entry 13285
حُبَارَى
A bustard, a well-known long-necked bird.
The word is used for both male and female and can function as a singular or collective designation; it also has reported plural forms.
- Lane · entry 13286
يَحْبُورٌ
A very happy, joyful, or cheerful man; also a soft, tender, or delicate man.
These are personal descriptions derived from حُبُورٌ and are distinct from the bird designation.
- Lane · entry 13295
يَحْبُورٌ
A bird, especially the male or young of the bustard.
This zoological usage is distinct from the personal adjective.
- Lane · entry 13295
حَابُورٌ
A sitting place or a company sitting together, especially a gathering of unrighteous persons or revellers.
The designation is explained as a place or group associated with enjoyment or festivity.
- Lane · entry 13289
مَحْبَرَةٌ
A place or vessel in which ink is kept, such as an inkpot, earthen container, or glass bottle.
The word has several reported vocalic and morphological variants; the displayed form is a principal citation form.
- Lane · entry 13290
مَحْبَرَةٌ
A thing or circumstance in which happiness, joy, or gladness is usually found; a source of happiness.
The definition is general and is not restricted to the illustrative example of women.
- Lane · entry 13290
مُحَبَّرٌ
A man whose skin is marked by flea bites.
This is a specialized description of visible marks on the skin.
- Lane · entry 13294
مُحَبَّرٌ
An arrow that has been well pared.
This is the passive or resultative counterpart of the technical arrow-preparation sense.
- Lane · entry 13294
مُحَبَّرٌ
A thing that has been beautified, adorned, or decorated.
The term may apply to an embellished object, poem, or other product of careful adornment.
- Maqāyīs · row 1277
- Mufradāt · row 288
مِحْبَارٌ
Land that grows vegetation quickly and abundantly.
This is a Classical agricultural description derived from the root's association with visible flourishing.
- Maqāyīs · row 1277
- Mufradāt · row 288
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The singular associated with the Quranic plural أَحْبَارٌ is reported with vocalic variants حِبْرٌ and حَبْرٌ; this artifact uses حِبْرٌ as the principal citation form.
Historical Lane Quran citation notation is not used to manufacture modern verse locations; the Quran examples here use only independently supplied QAC locations.