Quranic root
خوف
kh · w · f
The root centers on dread, fright, and apprehension in response to a feared possibility or danger.
From this core, the lexicon develops uses for apprehending a harmful possibility, reverent fear expressed through obedient restraint, causing fear, and warning. The Form V branch also has a distinct sense of diminishing or taking away little by little; this is treated as a consonantal development related to تنقّص.
- Maqāyīs · row 1674
- 7
- Quran-attested forms
- 11
- Quran senses
- 124
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
خَافَ
khāfa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 83 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 fear, be afraid of, or be concerned about; to fear for someone or something.
May take a direct object for what is feared, مِنْ for the source or circumstance feared, and عَلَى for concern on behalf of someone or something. In reference to God, the fear is presented as reverent apprehension expressed through avoiding disobedience and choosing obedience rather than mere panic.
- Lane · entry 20289
- Mufradāt · row 444
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:229word 18
“both fear”
Quran 3:175word 8
“but fear Me”
To know, recognize, or judge from indications that a harmful or improper condition exists.
Especially attested in conditional constructions such as “if you fear,” where the verb can mean recognizing or becoming aware of a likely problem rather than experiencing fright.
- Lane · entry 20289
- Mufradāt · row 444
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:3word 2
“you fear”
خَوَّفَ
khawwafa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- 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.
To put fear into someone, frighten or threaten them, or make someone or something a source of fear to others.
The causative relation may be understood as directly frightening someone or as causing people to fear through another person or thing. In divine discourse, the action may function as a warning intended to urge precaution.
- Lane · entry 20290
- Mufradāt · row 444
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:175word 4
“frightens (you)”
Quran 17:60word 20
“And We threaten them”
Quran 39:16word 11
“threatens”
تَخَوُّف
takhawwuf
- 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.
Gradual diminution, wasting, or taking away little by little.
Describes loss occurring progressively, including the reduction of bodies, possessions, livestock, or produce by stages.
- Lane · entry 20293
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:47word 4
“a gradual wasting”
The emergence or outward manifestation of fear in a person.
A Quran-attested interpretation of the verbal noun distinct from the sense of gradual diminution.
- Mufradāt · row 444
تَخْوِيف
takhwīf
- 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 putting of someone into fear: frightening, threatening, or warning.
In divine usage, the warning is intended to prompt people to guard themselves against danger or wrongdoing.
- Lane · entry 20290
- Mufradāt · row 444
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:59word 21
“(as) a warning”
خَائِف
khāʾif
- Part of speech
- 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.
Being afraid, fearful, frightened, or terrified.
An active participle describing a person or group experiencing fear; the evidence does not impose a restriction on the type of object feared.
- Lane · entry 20303
Selected Quran examples
خَوْف
khawf
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 26 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.
Fear, dread, or apprehension of a feared harm or danger.
Used for worldly and otherworldly fear. Fear of God is also construed as reverent apprehension manifested in restraint from wrongdoing and commitment to obedience.
- Lane · entry 20295
- Mufradāt · row 444
Selected Quran examples
Quran 32:16word 7
“(in) fear”
Slaughter or killing, understood as a feared calamity.
A Quran-attested extended interpretation in the expression describing trial by fear and slaughter.
- Lane · entry 20295
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:155word 4
“[the] fear”
Fighting or battle.
A Quran-attested use in a construction referring to the onset of fighting.
- Lane · entry 20295
Selected Quran examples
Quran 33:19word 18
“the fear”
خِيفَة
khīfah
- Part of speech
- 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.
A state or condition of fear; a felt or abiding fear.
Names the state in which a person remains fearful and can be used for reverent fear or fear directed toward a perceived danger.
- Lane · entry 20298
- Mufradāt · row 444
Selected Quran examples
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:38خَوْفٌfear
- 2:62خَوْفٌfear
- 2:112خَوْفٌfear
- 2:114خَآئِفِينَ ۚ(like) those in fear
- 2:155ٱلْخَوْفِ[the] fear
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 15 Classical meanings
خَافَ
To exceed another in fear; to be more fearful than him.
A comparative or reciprocal construction describing which party is the more fearful.
- Lane · entry 20289
خَوَّفَ
To diminish, lessen, or take something away.
A Classical Form II usage distinct from the causative sense represented in the Quranic Form II form.
- Lane · entry 20290
خَوَّفَ
To send away sheep or goats flock by flock.
A specialized livestock-related usage.
- Lane · entry 20290
أَخَافَ
To cause or make someone fear; to frighten or terrify, or to render a place or situation insecure.
Can take a person as the one caused to fear, or describe a frontier, road, wall, or event that gives rise to fear. This Classical Form IV item is kept separate from the Quranic Form II headword.
- Lane · entry 20292
خَافٌ
A very fearful or timid man.
A lexical noun describing a person characterized by timidity.
- Lane · entry 20294
خَوْفٌ
A red hide cut into thong-like strips and ornamented; a dialectal form of حَوْفٌ.
A rare material-culture noun, distinguished from the ordinary noun خَوْفٌ “fear.”
- Lane · entry 20295
خَافَةٌ
A hide garment or container used by a honey collector; also a hide basket or receptacle for gathered fruit.
The term covers the protective garment worn among bees as well as associated hide containers.
- Lane · entry 20297
خَافَةُ الزَّرْعِ
The envelope or protective covering of a grain of seed-produce.
A reported lexical use whose commonly known reading is elsewhere given as خَامَة.
- Lane · entry 20297
خَوَافٌ
Vociferation, clamour, or confused noise made by a company of men.
A collective sound noun, not a synonym for ordinary fear.
- Lane · entry 20299
خَوَّافٌ
A certain black bird.
The attestation is reported tentatively, with its naming left unexplained.
- Lane · entry 20302
طَرِيقٌ مُخَافٌ
A road whose people or passengers are made afraid by robbers; an unsafe road.
The epithet is used with the road understood through the people endangered on it.
- Lane · entry 20304
مَخُوفٌ
Feared or dangerous; something feared, including a dangerous road, animal, serpent, fire, wall, pain, or affair.
With عَلَى, a person may be described as feared for another’s property because he may consume or misuse it.
- Lane · entry 20305
مُخِيفٌ
Causing fear or formidable to whoever encounters it; a frightening thing such as a lion.
Describes the fear-producing rather than merely feared quality of a thing, event, pain, or animal.
- Lane · entry 20307
أَخْوَفٌ
More or most formidable, fearful, or feared.
An anomalous superlative adjective used with a following comparison or object of fear.
- Lane · entry 20308
مَخَافَةٌ
A cause of fear or a place of fear; plural مَخَاوِفُ.
The ordinary infinitival use is not separated here from the Quranic fear branch; this entry records its independently attested extended nominal uses.
- Lane · entry 20309
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
تَخَوُّفٌ in 16:47 has two explicitly attested interpretations in the supplied evidence: gradual diminution and the appearance of fear; these are retained as separate senses.
The interpretations of خَوْفٌ as slaughter and fighting are specialized Quran-attested uses of the noun rather than replacements for its ordinary meaning of fear.