Quranic root
برج
b · r · j
The root has two related orientations: becoming prominent or visible, and a strong elevated structure serving as a refuge or enclosure.
From prominence and visibility develop the eye-quality of wide, clear eyes, conspicuous beauty, and the display of adornment; from strong elevated structures develop towers and the celestial برج as a prominent heavenly station.
- Maqāyīs · row 732
- Lane · entry 35999
- 4
- Quran-attested forms
- 7
- Quran senses
- 7
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
تَبَرَّجَ
tabarraja
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form V
- Form
- V
- 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 display one's adornment or bodily beauty conspicuously.
In the Quranic construction, of women displaying adornment or beauty before men or strangers; display to a husband is not included in the culpable use described in the lexical evidence.
- Lane · entry 35998
- Mufradāt · row 109
Selected Quran examples
Quran 33:33word 5
“display yourselves”
To emerge or appear from one's tower or dwelling.
An alternative interpretation of the Quranic construction in 33:33 understands the verb in this sense rather than as display of adornment.
- Mufradāt · row 109
بُرْجٌ
burjun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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 tower or fortified, castle-like structure.
In the Quranic plural, especially in 4:78, the word can denote earthly fortified towers or structures; that passage is also given a celestial or figurative interpretation.
- Lane · entry 35999
- Mufradāt · row 109
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:78word 8
“towers”
A prominent heavenly station or structure, such as a constellation, asterism, or lunar mansion.
The Quranic plural refers to the برج of the heaven in 15:16, 25:61, and 85:1. Classical interpretation includes constellations or great stars, lunar mansions, and, alternatively, gates of heaven or celestial pavilions.
- Lane · entry 35999
- Mufradāt · row 109
Selected Quran examples
Quran 15:16word 5
“constellations”
Quran 85:1word 3
“the constellations”
مُتَبَرِّجٌ
mutabarrijun
- 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.
Displaying adornment or bodily beauty conspicuously.
The Quranic occurrence is a feminine plural active participle referring to women who display adornment; the construction in 24:60 concerns displaying زِينَةٌ, or adornment.
- Lane · entry 35998
- Mufradāt · row 109
Selected Quran examples
Quran 24:60word 15
“displaying”
تَبَرُّجٌ
tabarrujun
- Part of speech
- Verbal 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 act or condition of displaying adornment or bodily beauty conspicuously.
The Quranic construction in 33:33 describes public display associated with the former جاهلية practice.
- Lane · entry 35998
- Mufradāt · row 109
Selected Quran examples
Quran 33:33word 6
“(as was the) display”
Emergence or appearance from one's tower or dwelling.
An alternative interpretation of the verbal noun in 33:33 understands it as appearance from a برج rather than display of adornment.
- Mufradāt · row 109
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 4:78بُرُوجٍۢtowers
- 15:16بُرُوجًۭاconstellations
- 24:60مُتَبَرِّجَـٰتٍۭdisplaying
- 25:61بُرُوجًۭاconstellations
- 33:33تَبَرَّجْنَdisplay yourselves
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 13 Classical meanings
بَرِجَ
To become apparent, manifest, conspicuous, and elevated.
An intransitive Form I use combining visibility with height or elevation.
- Lane · entry 35995
بَرِجَ
To possess the eye-quality called بَرَجٌ.
The quality is described as a wide, open, clear, and beautiful eye in which the white surrounds the black.
- Lane · entry 35995
- Lane · entry 36000
بَرِجَ
For a person's state or condition to become ample in respect of eating and drinking.
A specialized Form I use concerning the condition or circumstances of a person.
- Lane · entry 35995
أَبْرَجَ
To build a tower or similar elevated structure.
Form IV, with a tower or برج as the object built.
- Lane · entry 35997
بُرْجٌ
A pigeon-turret or pigeon-house, serving as a lodging place for pigeons.
A specialized architectural use of the singular noun.
- Lane · entry 35999
بُرْجٌ
Strength or strongness.
Presented as a primary signification associated with the root and underlying the comparative use أَبْرَجُ, “stronger.”
- Lane · entry 35999
بَرَجٌ
The wide, open, clear, and beautiful appearance of the eye, including the condition in which the white entirely surrounds the black; also the spacing between the eyebrows.
A bodily description with several closely related specifications of eye breadth, whiteness, blackness, and beauty.
- Lane · entry 36000
بَرَجٌ
Beauty, elegance, or prettiness; a shining, splendid, conspicuous, or well-known quality.
An adjectival description of conspicuous beauty or excellence.
- Lane · entry 36000
خُلُقٌ بَارِجٌ
A large, broad, or liberal disposition.
Used of breadth or liberality of character.
- Lane · entry 36001
أَبْرَجُ
A person having the eye-quality بَرَجٌ; also an eye possessing that quality.
The feminine form بَرْجَاءُ is applied to a woman or to an eye with the same quality.
- Lane · entry 36002
أَبْرَجُ
Stronger than another.
A comparative use expressing greater strength.
- Lane · entry 36002
إِبْرِيجٌ
A vessel or receptacle, generally a skin, used to churn milk or extract its butter.
A specialized utensil synonymous with مِمْخَضَةٌ.
- Lane · entry 36003
ثَوْبٌ مُبَرَّجٌ
A garment decorated with figures resembling towers, or with eye-like designs.
The description may refer to figures of towers or similar architectural forms, or to patterned eyes.
- Lane · entry 36004
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The celestial Quranic برج has a shared lexical branch but varied interpretations, including constellations, lunar mansions, stars or asterisms, gates of heaven, and celestial pavilions.
For تَبَرَّجَ and تَبَرُّجٌ, emergence from one's برج is preserved as an alternative Quranic interpretation rather than treated as the ordinary display-of-adornment sense.