Quranic root
وحي
w · ḥ · y
The root centers on conveying knowledge, direction, or a message to another swiftly and often discreetly, whether by sign, speech, writing, or inward prompting.
The lexical range develops from rapid, hidden indication to signaling, suggestion, inspiration, and divine revelation. A related classical branch preserves the notion of quickness or haste, while the Quranic forms chiefly express revelation and indirect communication.
- Maqāyīs · row 5051
- Mufradāt · row 1561
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 78
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَوْحَى
ʾawḥā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 72 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 reveal, speak, or make something known to a recipient through revelation.
Used for divine or revelatory communication, often with a recipient introduced by إِلَى. The communication may be direct or mediated by a messenger; active and passive forms express sending and receiving revelation.
- Lane · entry 30404
- Mufradāt · row 1561
Selected Quran examples
Quran 10:109word 3
“is revealed”
Quran 53:10word 1
“So he revealed”
To communicate swiftly and indirectly: to signal, suggest, whisper, inspire, or put an idea or command into the mind or recipient.
Covers communication by gesture, allusion, writing, or coded expression, as well as inward prompting and inspiration. Quranic applications include signaling, satanic whispering, and prompting or directing a mother, animal, angel, heaven, or earth; the precise channel is context-dependent.
- Lane · entry 30404
- Mufradāt · row 1561
Selected Quran examples
وَحْي
waḥy
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- 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.
Revelation or inspired communication: the divine message or act of conveying guidance to a recipient.
Used for revelation to prophets and for other forms of divine communication, including direct speech, communication through a messenger, and inward inspiration. In the construction إِلَّا وَحْيًا, it denotes revelation as a mode of divine address.
- Mufradāt · row 1561
Selected Quran examples
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 3:44نُوحِيهِWe reveal it
- 4:163أَوْحَيْنَآhave revealed
- 4:163أَوْحَيْنَآWe revealed
- 4:163وَأَوْحَيْنَآand We revealed
- 5:111أَوْحَيْتُI inspired
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
وَحِيٌّ
Swift or hasty; applied especially to a swift death.
A distinct lexical item with the headword وَحِيٌّ, not the verbal noun وَحْي meaning revelation.
- Lane · entry 30405
الوَحَاءَ
An imperative expression meaning: “Hasten!” or “Be first, before, or beforehand!”
Fixed exhortatory expression, الوَحَاءَ الوَحَاءَ.
- Lane · entry 30406
فِي أَوْحَى مُدَّةٍ
In the shortest period.
Fixed temporal expression referring to the briefest possible duration.
- Lane · entry 30407
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Form IV verb covers both formal revelation and indirect signaling or inspiration; tense, voice, and recipient do not by themselves create additional senses.
The interpretation of the signaling occurrence in 19:11 allows different channels, including gesture, coded speech, or writing. The lexical sense should therefore not be restricted to one physical mode.
The indirect-prompting sense may be divine, natural, angelic, or satanic in Quranic contexts; “inspiration” does not always denote prophetic revelation.