Quranic root
بطش
b · ṭ · sh
The root centers on taking or grasping something through coercion, dominance, and force.
From forceful grasp, the lexicon extends to violent seizure and assault and to nouns for the act or its occurrence. Broader Classical Arabic uses include might, struggle, anger, figurative assault, work or ability, and several specialized derived applications.
- Maqāyīs · row 783
- Mufradāt · row 132
- Lane · entry 36619
- Lane · entry 36620
- Lane · entry 36623
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 10
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
بَطَشَ
baṭasha
- 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 seize violently, lay violent hands on, or assault.
Normally used with بِهِ for the person or thing seized. In the Quranic construction نَبْطِشُ الْبَطْشَةَ الْكُبْرَى, it describes making the greatest assault; an alternate interpretation understands the construction as giving power over them to assailants.
- Lane · entry 36619
- Mufradāt · row 132
Selected Quran examples
بَطْشٌ
baṭshun
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 3 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.
Forceful seizure or assault; an overpowering grip.
Verbal noun of بَطَشَ. In Quranic contexts, the act may be rendered according to its construction as power, force, or grip.
- Lane · entry 36619
- Mufradāt · row 132
Selected Quran examples
بَطْشَةٌ
baṭshahun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
A violent seizure or assault.
In الْبَطْشَةُ الْكُبْرَى, “the greatest assault,” the referent is explained variously as the Resurrection or the battle of Badr.
- Lane · entry 36624
- Mufradāt · row 132
Selected Quran examples
Quran 44:16word 3
“(with) the seizure”
Quran 54:36word 3
“(of) Our seizure”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 7:195يَبْطِشُونَ(to) hold
- 26:130بَطَشْتُمyou seize
- 26:130بَطَشْتُمْyou seize
- 28:19يَبْطِشَstrike
- 43:8بَطْشًۭا(in) power
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 10 Classical meanings
بَطَشَ
To take hold of a thing strongly or cling to it.
A use of the verb with a thing as its object, with the preposition بِ understood or with the sense of taking and handling.
- Lane · entry 36619
بَطَشَ
To assault or overwhelm figuratively, as when terrors assail people.
Figurative use with circumstances or other nonhuman agents as the assailant.
- Lane · entry 36619
بَطَشَ
To work or labor.
Said of a hand when it works or labors; figuratively used of a person's activity in knowledge, to labor with extensive ability.
- Lane · entry 36619
بَطَشَ
To recover from a fever while still weak.
A rare specialized usage associated with recovery from illness.
- Lane · entry 36619
بَاطَشَ
To strive, struggle, contend, or conflict with another to prevail or overcome.
The reciprocal construction may describe two people reaching out to seize and assault one another quickly.
- Lane · entry 36620
بَطْشٌ
Might or strength in war or combat; courage, valour, or prowess.
A Classical noun describing a person's martial force or bravery.
- Lane · entry 36623
بَطْشٌ
Anger.
An independently attested Classical nominal use.
- Lane · entry 36623
بَطِيشٌ
A forceful or violent person; one of great might in seizure.
Applied to a man characterized by severe or powerful seizure.
- Lane · entry 36625
تَبَطَّشَ
To move with slow, halting steps under a burden.
Used of travelling camels that proceed laboriously with their loads.
- Lane · entry 36622
مَبْطِشٌ
A place of assault or a site characterized by assault.
Also reported with the variant مَبْطَشٌ; the plural is مَبَاطِشُ.
- Lane · entry 36627
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic phrase الْبَطْشَةُ الْكُبْرَى has differing reported referents, including the Resurrection and the battle of Badr; the associated verbal construction also has an alternate interpretive explanation.
A historical Lane citation to chapter xliv, verse 15 is not converted directly into a modern verse coordinate; modern Quran locations in the examples follow the independently supplied QAC locations.