Quranic root
صفن
ṣ · f · n
The root has two principal semantic fields: a distinctive poised or gathered stance, and a vessel or receptacle.
The standing branch includes a horse raising one leg while the limbs are gathered, and extends to aligned feet and measured division of water. A separate vessel branch denotes skin containers and related objects; the vein sense is treated as an outlying lexical branch.
- Maqāyīs · row 2806
- Mufradāt · row 841
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 1
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
صَافِنٌ
ṣāfinun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
Of a horse: standing poised on three legs while raising the fourth, with the tip of its hoof touching the ground.
The Quranic form is the feminine plural صَافِنَاتٌ, describing horses in this distinctive standing posture.
- Lane · entry 26176
- Mufradāt · row 841
Selected Quran examples
Quran 38:31word 5
“excellent bred steeds”
In a reported Quranic variant reading concerning sacrificial animals: standing with one foreleg tied to the upper limb; the reading was also interpreted simply as standing or standing still.
This variant Quranic construction is recorded in the lexical evidence, but its modern verse location is not claimed here because no corresponding QAC location is supplied for it.
- Lane · entry 26176
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 38:31ٱلصَّـٰفِنَـٰتُexcellent bred steeds
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 14 Classical meanings
صَفْنٌ
Joining or bringing two things together, with one close against the other.
This is a general lexical description of the root’s gathering or compacting sense, distinct from the specific Quranic horse posture.
- Mufradāt · row 841
صَفَنَ / صَافِنٌ
To stand with the feet set evenly or close together; of a person, to stand in this posture, especially in prayer.
Reports distinguish setting the feet evenly or close together from turning one foot backward in imitation of a horse’s stance.
- Lane · entry 26167
- Lane · entry 26176
صَفَنَ / صَفَنٌ
To compact dry herbage and leaves into a habitation or nest, or the resulting habitation made by a bird, hornet, or similar creature.
The habitation may be made for the creature itself or for its young.
- Lane · entry 26167
- Lane · entry 26173
صَفَنَ
To gather one’s clothes together upon a saddle or similar support.
- Lane · entry 26167
صَفَنَ بِهِ
To fling someone or something upon the ground.
- Lane · entry 26167
صَفَنَهُ
To rend or slit the scrotal covering.
The object is the anatomical noun صَفَنٌ, ‘scrotum’.
- Lane · entry 26167
مُصَافَنَةٌ
Standing in confrontation with a people or party.
This is the reciprocal or interactional noun مُصَافَنَةٌ.
- Lane · entry 26169
مُصَافَنَةٌ / تَصَافَنَ الْمَاءَ
To divide a limited supply of water among people by measured shares, traditionally using a pebble to gauge each allotment.
Each person’s portion could be measured as the amount covering the pebble placed in the vessel.
- Lane · entry 26169
- Lane · entry 26170
صَفْنٌ
A round skin or leather food cloth or spread, gathered near its edge by a drawstring so that it can form a bag.
The vocalization صَفْنٌ is reported with a qualification that it may be a variant or error for صُفْنٌ.
- Lane · entry 26171
صُفْنٌ
A skin or leather receptacle, pouch, or small bucket used for provisions, utensils, travel equipment, or sometimes for drawing water.
The same term may refer to a vessel used for ablution; by metonymy, the water contained in such a vessel may also be called صُفْنٌ.
- Lane · entry 26172
صَفْنٌ
The faucial pouch or throat sac of a camel.
This is a specialized anatomical usage distinct from the scrotum sense.
- Lane · entry 26171
صَفَنٌ
The scrotum of a man.
- Lane · entry 26173
صَفَنٌ
The envelope or sheath of an ear of corn.
The term is used by comparison with the scrotum.
- Lane · entry 26173
صَافِنٌ
A saphenous or related vein, especially a vein in the leg or shank.
Classical descriptions vary as to the precise location, including veins of the shank, arm, thigh, or a deep vein extending along the spine.
- Lane · entry 26176
- Mufradāt · row 841
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The canonical QAC occurrence is the feminine plural صَافِنَاتٌ at 38:31; the reported variant Quranic reading concerning sacrificial animals is retained without assigning it an additional modern location.
Classical authorities differ on the precise anatomical location meant by صَافِنٌ in the vein sense.