Quranic root
بلغ
b · l · gh
The root centers on reaching or arriving at something.
From physical arrival, the usage extends to attaining a limit, stage, age, purpose, or degree; causing something to reach another; conveying something to a recipient; and having sufficient means to attain an end.
- Maqāyīs · row 839
- Mufradāt · row 157
- 8
- Quran-attested forms
- 12
- Quran senses
- 77
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
بَلَغَ
balagha
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 40 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 reach, arrive at, or attain a destination, point, term, or intended stage.
The construction may describe actual attainment or, with an appointed term, being near the point of completion.
- Lane · entry 37117
- Mufradāt · row 157
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:86word 3
“he reached”
To attain maturity, full growth, puberty, or a specified age or stage.
Used of reaching a developed or appointed stage, including maturity, manly vigor, working ability, or a stated age.
- Lane · entry 37117
- Mufradāt · row 157
Selected Quran examples
Quran 12:22word 2
“he reached”
Quran 4:6word 5
“they reach[ed]”
To come to or reach someone, especially of old age or another condition coming upon a person.
This is a recipient-oriented construction, as in old age reaching someone, rather than saying that the person reaches a place.
- Lane · entry 37117
- Mufradāt · row 157
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:40word 8
“has reached me”
بَلَّغَ
ballagha
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- Quran occurrences
- 6 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 cause to reach; to convey, deliver, or communicate something to a recipient.
Used both of bringing a person or thing to a destination and of delivering a message, news, greeting, or divine communication.
- Lane · entry 37118
- Mufradāt · row 157
Selected Quran examples
أَبْلَغَ
ʾablagha
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- 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 cause a person or thing to reach a destination or an intended outcome.
The causative construction can describe bringing someone to a place of safety or bringing someone to a resulting condition.
- Lane · entry 37118
- Lane · entry 37120
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:6word 12
“escort him”
To convey or communicate a message, statement, or information.
Used of completing the delivery of what one has been charged to communicate.
- Lane · entry 37118
- Lane · entry 37120
- Mufradāt · row 157
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:57word 4
“I have conveyed to you”
Quran 72:28word 4
“they have conveyed”
بَالِغٌ
bālighun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 6 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.
Reaching or attaining a destination, object, degree, or intended result.
The active participle describes something that reaches its target or reaches the limit or purpose appointed for it.
- Lane · entry 37136
Selected Quran examples
بَالِغَةٌ
bālighahun
- Part of speech
- Adjective · Active participle
- 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.
Fully reaching its intended force or degree; complete, conclusive, or binding.
Applied to an argument, wisdom, covenant, or oath that has attained its intended conclusiveness, completeness, or binding force.
- Lane · entry 37136
- Mufradāt · row 157
Selected Quran examples
بَلَاغٌ
balāghun
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 15 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.
The conveying, delivery, communication, or announcement of a message; a message or notification thus conveyed.
Frequently used of communicating revelation, instruction, or a warning, and may refer either to the act of communication or to its communicated content.
- Lane · entry 37130
- Mufradāt · row 157
Selected Quran examples
Quran 5:92word 12
“(is to) convey (the Message)”
Quran 14:52word 2
“(is) a Message”
Quran 46:35word 22
“A notification”
Sufficiency or an adequate exposition or means for attaining an intended end.
The sense concerns something that suffices or provides enough guidance or means, rather than the act of transmitting a message.
- Lane · entry 37130
- Mufradāt · row 157
Selected Quran examples
Quran 21:106word 4
“surely is a Message”
بَلِيغٌ
balīghun
- Part of speech
- Adjective
- 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.
Eloquent, penetrating, or effective in speech or expression.
The expression reaches its intended meaning and is suited to its addressee or produces the intended effect.
- Lane · entry 37132
- Mufradāt · row 157
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:63word 16
“penetrating”
مَبْلَغٌ
mablaghun
- 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.
The extent, limit, degree, or amount reached; a resulting sum or total.
The noun can denote the point or degree attained or the amount resulting from reaching or adding up quantities.
- Lane · entry 37140
Selected Quran examples
Quran 53:30word 2
“(is) their sum”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:196يَبْلُغَreaches
- 2:231فَبَلَغْنَand they reach
- 2:232فَبَلَغْنَand they reached
- 2:234بَلَغْنَthey reach
- 2:235يَبْلُغَreaches
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
بُلُوغٌ
The reaching or arrival of a letter or written communication.
Used of a document or writing arriving at its recipient.
- Lane · entry 37117
بُلُوغٌ
Information coming to one's knowledge or being reported to one.
The recipient construction بَلَغَنِي commonly introduces news or information that has come to the person's knowledge.
- Lane · entry 37117
بُلُوغٌ
To affect, distress, overpower, or take effect upon someone.
Used elliptically of harm, hardship, wine, a saying, or another influence reaching a person.
- Lane · entry 37117
بُلُوغٌ
To exhaust, jade, harass, or impose hardship upon a person or beast.
A construction with an object or with an expressed hardship can mean bringing the object to the utmost of distress or fatigue.
- Lane · entry 37117
بُلُوغٌ
To reach full growth or ripeness.
Said of plants and herbage attaining full growth and of trees or fruit becoming ripe.
- Lane · entry 37117
بَلَغَ بِهِ
To cause someone to reach an appointed end, term, or resulting condition.
A causative construction in which the reached destination or outcome is understood from context.
- Lane · entry 37117
بَلُغَ
To be eloquent, perspicuous, sharp, or effective in speech.
The verb describes attaining the intended meaning through suitable and forceful diction.
- Lane · entry 37117
تَبْلِيغٌ
To stretch out the hand or give the rein to a horse so that it increases its speed.
A specialized equestrian construction.
- Lane · entry 37118
تَبْلِيغٌ
For gray hair to begin appearing on someone's head.
A reported usage concerning the onset of hoariness.
- Lane · entry 37118
بَالَغَ
To exceed ordinary or proper bounds and exert oneself to the utmost.
Used of extraordinary effort, energetic pursuit, thoroughness, or excess in an affair.
- Lane · entry 37119
أَبْلَغَ
To bring one's utmost power, effort, or ability to an affair.
A construction describing applying the full measure of one's effort to accomplishing something.
- Lane · entry 37120
أَبْلَغُ
More or most effective, efficacious, or eloquent.
Used as a comparative or superlative, including of speech, praise, or eulogy whose force exceeds the ordinary.
- Lane · entry 37120
- Lane · entry 37137
تَبَلَّغَ
To constrain or apply oneself until reaching a place or desired object.
The reflexive form emphasizes effort or persistence in attaining the goal.
- Lane · entry 37121
تَبَلَّغَ بِهِ
To be satisfied or content with something and attain one's desire by it.
Used of accepting a means as sufficient for reaching what one seeks.
- Lane · entry 37121
تَبَلَّغَتْ بِهِ
For disease or illness to become severe and distress someone.
A construction in which the malady reaches an extreme degree in the affected person.
- Lane · entry 37121
تَبَالَغَ
To reach or attain an utmost degree by gradual intensification.
Used of tanning taking full effect in leather and of anxiety, grief, or disease becoming extreme.
- Lane · entry 37122
تَبَالَغَ
To affect or assume eloquence in speech without genuinely possessing it.
The usage contrasts affected eloquence with being truly eloquent.
- Lane · entry 37122
بِلْغٌ
In an idiom, the hoped-for non-arrival of an unwelcome event or tidings.
Used in expressions meaning, in effect, “may it be heard but may it not reach or come upon us.”
- Lane · entry 37124
بِلْغٌ
Foolish or stupid, yet attaining one's desire; or foolish in the utmost degree.
An intensifying adjectival usage, with the first interpretation combining stupidity with successful attainment.
- Lane · entry 37124
بِلْغٌ
Extremely bad, evil, or wicked.
Applied to a person in an emphatic expression of extreme moral badness.
- Lane · entry 37124
بُلْغَةٌ
A sufficiency or adequate means of subsistence; enough to enable one to attain what one seeks.
The item may denote a sufficient livelihood or anything that satisfies and enables attainment of an objective.
- Lane · entry 37127
بِلَغْنٌ
A calumniator, slanderer, or person who carries people's speech to others.
The meaning concerns transmitting people's words in a blameworthy or talebearing manner.
- Lane · entry 37128
البُلَغِينَ
A calamity, misfortune, disaster, or extreme distress.
A fixed plural-like expression used for an affliction that has reached an extreme degree.
- Lane · entry 37129
بَلِيغٌ
Great, severe, distressing, or afflictive.
Applied especially to a calamity or comparable circumstance of pronounced severity.
- Lane · entry 37132
بَلَاغَةٌ
Eloquence: speech appropriate to its occasion, clear in expression, and effective in conveying its intended meaning.
The term concerns the quality of speech and the speaker's ability to formulate language suited to the situation and addressee.
- Lane · entry 37133
بَلَاغَةٌ
Slanders or calumnies.
A plural usage distinct from the technical sense of eloquence.
- Lane · entry 37133
بَالِغٌ
A boy or girl who has attained puberty, virility, ripeness, or maturity.
A classical adjectival use describing attainment of physical or legal maturity.
- Lane · entry 37136
بَالِغٌ
A good, goodly, or excellent thing.
An adjectival use in which the form qualifies something as notably good or excellent.
- Lane · entry 37136
تَبْلِغَةٌ
A rope or cord joined to a well-rope so that it reaches the water.
A specialized term for an extension or joining cord used in drawing water.
- Lane · entry 37138
تَبْلِغَةٌ
A thong wound around the curved end of a bow where the bowstring ends, to secure the string.
A specialized archery term.
- Lane · entry 37138
مَبْلَغٌ
A sum of money, especially a considerable amount, or ready cash.
This financial sense is a later or specialized extension of the notion of an amount reached or totaled.
- Lane · entry 37140
مُبَلِّغٌ
A person whose office is to chant specified words, such as the call announcing the commencement of prayer, in a mosque.
A technical religious-office usage.
- Lane · entry 37142
مَبْلُوغٌ بِهِ
One who is caused to reach an appointed end or term of life.
Used of the object of the construction بَلَغَ اللهُ بِهِ, with the intended end or term understood.
- Lane · entry 37143
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
بَلَغَ may describe completed attainment or, with an appointed term, being on the verge of completion; the construction determines which nuance applies.
The Form II and Form IV verbs overlap in conveying or causing something to reach, but remain separate public forms because QAC identifies distinct derived forms.