Quranic root
صعق
ṣ · ʿ · q
A forceful striking sound or impact, especially a violent atmospheric thunderclap, with effects that include stunning, death, and destruction.
The root develops from vehement sound and impact to the thunderbolt, the stunned state it produces, and fatal or destructive consequences. These effects remain conceptually connected, though particular derived forms lexicalize them differently.
- Maqāyīs · row 2793
- Mufradāt · row 834
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 6
- Quran senses
- 11
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
صَعِقَ
ṣaʿiqa
- 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 swoon, become insensible, or lose awareness under the effect of a vehement sound or overwhelming strike.
The Quranic passive occurrence describes people being made to faint or become insensible; the lexical construction can involve being struck by a thunderbolt.
- Lane · entry 25988
Selected Quran examples
Quran 52:45word 7
“they will faint”
To die or fall dead, as overcome by a devastating sound or strike.
In the interpretation of 39:68, the verb is understood as dying or falling dead; related interpretations include falling into a swoon or losing reason.
- Lane · entry 25988
- Mufradāt · row 834
Selected Quran examples
Quran 39:68word 4
“then (will) fall dead”
صَاعِقَةٌ
ṣāʿiqahun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 8 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 violent atmospheric thunderclap or thunderbolt: a powerful strike from the sky accompanied by overwhelming sound.
This denotes the atmospheric event or strike itself, including the singular and plural Quranic forms.
- Lane · entry 25995
- Mufradāt · row 834
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:19word 14
“the thunderclaps”
The fire or lightning discharge issuing from a violent thunderbolt.
This sense emphasizes the fiery or lightning-bearing effect of the atmospheric phenomenon rather than the sound alone.
- Lane · entry 25995
- Mufradāt · row 834
Selected Quran examples
Quran 13:13word 8
“the thunderbolts”
A destructive punitive visitation, including a fatal visitation or death caused by it.
The word may name the destructive effect of the thunderbolt as punishment, especially when the result is death, rather than only the physical atmospheric event.
- Lane · entry 25995
- Mufradāt · row 834
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:153word 21
“the thunderbolt”
Quran 41:17word 9
“a thunderbolt”
صَعِقٌ
ṣaʿiqun
- Part of speech
- Adjective · substantivized
- 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.
Unconscious, stunned, or deprived of ordinary awareness.
The Quranic nominal use describes a person rendered insensible; it is an adjective-like form used substantivally in the supplied morphology.
- Lane · entry 25992
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:143word 32
“unconscious”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:19ٱلصَّوَٰعِقِthe thunderclaps
- 2:55ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُthe thunderbolt
- 4:153ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُthe thunderbolt
- 7:143صَعِقًۭا ۚunconscious
- 13:13ٱلصَّوَٰعِقَthe thunderbolts
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 15 Classical meanings
صَعَقَ
To smite someone with a thunderbolt; said of the sky or another agent of the strike.
A transitive use distinct from the intransitive or passive Quranic uses of صَعِقَ.
- Lane · entry 25988
صَعِقَ
Of a well, to collapse, fall in, or be reduced to ruins.
A specialized use applied to the physical collapse of a well.
- Lane · entry 25988
صَعِقَ
To bellow, roar, or emit a vehement sound.
Used of a bull and, by extension, of a person who bellows or roars.
- Lane · entry 25988
أَصْعَقَ
To strike someone with a thunderbolt or cause him to swoon and become insensible.
A Form IV causative construction; the thunderbolt may be the grammatical subject.
- Lane · entry 25989
أَصْعَقَ
To kill or slay someone.
A causative result distinct from merely causing swooning or insensibility.
- Lane · entry 25989
صَعَقٌ
Swooning or becoming insensible because of a vehement sound; sometimes a fatal swoon, and subsequently death.
A verbal noun naming the condition or its fatal development.
- Lane · entry 25991
صَعَقٌ
Vehemence of sound or voice, including vehement braying.
A noun of sound intensity, especially applied to the braying of an ass.
- Lane · entry 25991
صَعِقٌ
Expecting or looking for a thunderbolt.
A specialized adjectival use describing anticipation of such an event.
- Lane · entry 25992
صَعِقٌ
Dying suddenly, or dead.
A Classical adjectival sense distinct from the Quranic use for being unconscious or stunned.
- Lane · entry 25992
صَعِقٌ
Vehement in voice or braying.
Applied especially to an ass characterized by a powerful bray.
- Lane · entry 25992
صَعْقَةٌ
The sound proceeding from a thunderbolt.
Names the sound or blast as an occurrence, rather than the thunderbolt itself.
- Lane · entry 25993
صَعْقَةٌ
The first blast of the horn on the Day of Resurrection.
A conventional eschatological expression.
- Lane · entry 25993
صَعْقَةٌ
A death or fatal striking.
A nominal use naming the resulting death rather than the atmospheric event alone.
- Lane · entry 25993
صَاعِقٌ
A camel meagre in its marrow.
A specialized descriptive use applied to the animal's emaciated condition.
- Lane · entry 25994
صَاعِقَةٌ
A vehement cry or shout functioning as an instrument of punishment.
A Classical extension from the violent sound associated with destructive punishment.
- Lane · entry 25995
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The verb in 39:68 has an explicitly reported interpretive range: death, falling dead, swooning, or loss of reason; the related Quranic senses preserve this distinction rather than forcing one English equivalent.
The Quran-focused discussion treats the thunderbolt, its fire, and its punitive or fatal effects as connected aspects of one phenomenon; they are separated here only where the lexical use highlights a different function or result.