Quranic root
حنث
ḥ · n · th
The root centers on culpable sin, wrongdoing, and the burden or difficulty associated with it; in oath usage, this appears as failure to keep an oath.
The lexical development extends from sin and oath-breach to accountability for one's acts, while the reflexive Form V describes distancing oneself from sin and, by extension, devotional practice and the abandonment of idolatry.
- Maqāyīs · row 1456
- Mufradāt · row 361
- Lane · entry 15836
- Lane · entry 15839
- Lane · entry 15840
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 2
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
حَنِثَ
ḥanitha
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
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 violate, break, or fail to perform an oath.
Used with an oath or pledge; the Quranic occurrence is a negative imperfect form meaning not to break the oath.
- Lane · entry 15836
- Mufradāt · row 361
Selected Quran examples
Quran 38:44word 7
“break (your) oath”
حِنْثٌ
ḥinthun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Sin, wrongdoing, or a culpable offence; in the Quranic expression الْحِنْثِ الْعَظِيمِ, great sin.
Used substantively; the attested Quranic phrase refers to great sin, with the cited interpretation including belief in the plurality of gods.
- Lane · entry 15840
- Mufradāt · row 361
Selected Quran examples
Quran 56:46word 4
“the sin”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 2 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 16 Classical meanings
حَنِثَ
To retract or revoke an oath.
A distinct use of the Form I verb in connection with an oath.
- Lane · entry 15836
حَنِثَ
To say what is not true.
Used without the oath construction.
- Lane · entry 15836
حَنِثَ
To turn or deviate from falsehood to truth, or from truth to falsehood.
A reported use describing a change of orientation between truth and falsehood.
- Lane · entry 15836
حَنِثَ
To commit a sin, crime, or offence.
A reported extended use of the verb, including committing wrongdoing in one's oath.
- Lane · entry 15836
حَنَّثَهُ
To declare or deem someone a violator or non-performer of an oath.
Form II, with the person accused of failing to keep an oath as object.
- Lane · entry 15837
أَحْنَثَهُ
To cause someone to violate, break, or fail to perform an oath.
Form IV causative construction with the person caused to break the oath as object.
- Lane · entry 15838
أَحْنَثَ
To refuse assent to another person's adjuration or solemn appeal.
A reported idiomatic use, contrasted with أَبَرَّ.
- Lane · entry 15838
تَحَنَّثَ
To put sin away from oneself, abstain from a sinful matter, or act so as to escape sin.
Reflexive Form V use; the object of abstention may be expressed with مِنْ.
- Lane · entry 15839
تَحَنَّثَ
To devote oneself to acts of worship or seek nearness to God through devotional works.
A reported extended religious use of the reflexive Form V.
- Lane · entry 15839
تَحَنَّثَ
To relinquish the worship of idols.
A reported religious use, compared with تَحَنَّفَ.
- Lane · entry 15839
حِنْثٌ
The violation or failure to perform an oath; a broken oath.
A nominal use distinct from the Quranic sense of sin.
- Lane · entry 15840
حِنْثٌ
In بَلَغَ الْحِنْثَ, the age at which a person becomes accountable for obedience and disobedience.
The expression is variously explained as reaching puberty, manhood, or the age when one's deeds begin to be recorded.
- Lane · entry 15840
أَوْلَادُ الْحِنْثِ
Children born of adultery or fornication.
A reported interpretation of the expression أَوْلَادُ الْحِنْثِ and associated with one transmitted reading.
- Lane · entry 15840
حَانِثٌ
A person who violates or fails to perform an oath.
Active-participial designation of the oath-breaker.
- Lane · entry 15841
مُحْنِثٌ
A matter about which people differ and which admits of two different ways of being regarded.
A thing is so called because it may cause someone to be untrue in an oath; it is also associated with مُحْلِفٌ.
- Lane · entry 15843
مَحَانِثُ
Places or occasions of falling into oath violation or sin.
A plural expression explained as مواقع حنث or مواقع إثم.
- Lane · entry 15844
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic nominal occurrence represents the sin sense; oath violation, the accountability-age idiom, and the other nominal expressions are separately attested Classical Arabic uses.
The devotional and idol-relinquishing meanings of تَحَنَّثَ are Classical uses of Form V and are not QAC-attested form groups in this packet.