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Quranic root

قسطس

q · s · ṭ · s

No independent root-level semantic principle is established by the supplied evidence. The directly attested lexical center is a balance or weighing instrument, with extensions to particular balance types and standards.

The lexical discussion records a proposed association with قِسْط meaning justice, alongside a competing account that the word is an Arabicized Greek term. Neither account establishes a broader productive root development here.

  • Lane · entry 8324
1
Quran-attested forms
1
Quran senses
2
Quran occurrences

Forms in the Quran

The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.

قِسْطَاس

qisṭās

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.

  1. A balance or instrument for weighing.

    In the supplied Quranic occurrences, used with بِـ in the expression بِالْقِسْطَاسِ, in instructions concerning weighing and measurement.

    • Lane · entry 8324
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 17:35word 6

    “with the balance”

    Quran 26:182word 2

    “with a balance”

Occurrences in the Quran

Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.

  • 17:35بِٱلْقِسْطَاسِwith the balance
  • 26:182بِٱلْقِسْطَاسِwith a balance
View all 2 occurrences

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 3 Classical meanings

  • قِسْطَاس

    The most even and just kind of balance; also something just, whatever its kind.

    Applied in Classical Arabic beyond the physical weighing instrument to a thing characterized as just.

    • Lane · entry 8324

  • قِسْطَاس

    A steelyard; also the iron or beam of a steelyard or balance.

    The term may denote the whole instrument or a specified structural part such as its iron or beam.

    • Lane · entry 8324

  • قِسْطَاس

    A public standard of weights or measures.

    Denotes a recognized standard used for weighing or measurement, distinct from merely naming a balance instrument.

    • Lane · entry 8324

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • The lexical evidence records both قُسْطَاس and قِسْطَاس, as well as an orthographic variant قصطاس; the public headword follows the QAC vocalization قِسْطَاس. Its etymology is reported both as related to قِسْط meaning justice and as an Arabicized Greek term.

  • The Lane Quran citation is given in historical citation notation; the example locations here are the independently supplied QAC locations.