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Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
and so we desired that their Sustainer grant them in his stead [a child] of greater purity than him, and closer [to them] in loving tenderness
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
So we hoped that their Lord would give them another, more virtuous and caring in his place.
Safi Kaskas   
So, we wished that their Lord would give them a son better in purity and closer to mercy.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
فَأَرَدْنَا أَن يُبْدِلَهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُ زَكَاةً وَأَقْرَبَ رُحْمً
Transliteration (2021)   
fa-aradnā an yub'dilahumā rabbuhumā khayran min'hu zakatan wa-aqraba ruḥ'ma
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
So we intended that would change for them their Lord, a better than him (in) purity and nearer (in) affection.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
and so we desired that their Sustainer grant them in his stead [a child] of greater purity than him, and closer [to them] in loving tenderness
M. M. Pickthall   
And we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in purity and nearer to mercy
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
"So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
So we hoped that their Lord would give them another, more virtuous and caring in his place.
Safi Kaskas   
So, we wished that their Lord would give them a son better in purity and closer to mercy.
Wahiduddin Khan   
We wanted their Lord to replace him with someone purer than him and more compassionate
Shakir   
So we desired that their Lord might give them in his place one better than him in purity and nearer to having compassion
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
so we wanted their Lord to cause for them in exchange one better than he in purity and nearer in sympathy.
T.B.Irving   
We wanted their Lord to replace him for them with someone better than him in purity and nearer to tenderness.
Abdul Hye   
So we intended that their Lord should exchange for them one (son) better than him in righteousness and near to mercy.
The Study Quran   
So we desired that their Lord give them in exchange one who is better than him in purity, and nearer to mercy
Dr. Kamal Omar   
So we (as a government-body and not my person alone) intended (and decided) that the Nourisher-Sustainer of these two (parents) may bestow these two in replacement one better than him (i.e., the slain one) in righteousness and nearer in mercy
Farook Malik   
It was our wish that our Lord should grant them another in his place, a son more righteous and better in affection
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
So we wanted their Lord to replace him with someone better in purity, and closer to mercy
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
So we willingly (intended) that their Lord would give them (both) in exchange a more charitable (person) in cleansing (i.e., a better, purer son) than he and nearer in tenderness
Muhammad Sarwar   
so We decided that their Lord should replace him by a better and more virtuous son
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
We, therefore, wished that their Lord would replace him with someone better than him in piety, and more akin to affection
Shabbir Ahmed   
And so we desired that their Sustainer grant them instead of him, a child better in purity of conduct and affection
Dr. Munir Munshey   
"We wished that their Lord would grant them in exchange a just, honest and a more merciful (offspring)."
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
"So we wanted that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) with more purity (of actions) and closer (to them) in (his) affection
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
So we intended that their Lord should substitute for them one better than him in purity and nearer to mercy
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
"So we wanted their Lord to replace for them with one who is better than him in purity and closer to mercy."
Abdel Haleem   
we wished that their Lord should give them another child- purer and more compassionate- in his place
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
So we intended that their Lord should change for the twain one better than he in piety and closer in affection
Ahmed Ali   
We hoped their Lord would give them a substitute better than him in virtue and goodness
Aisha Bewley   
We wanted their Lord to give them in exchange a purer son than him, one more compassionate.
Ali Ünal   
"So we wished that their Lord would grant them in his place one better than him in purity and nearer in affection (to his parents)
Ali Quli Qara'i   
So We desired that their Lord should give them in exchange one better than him in respect of purity and closer in mercy
Hamid S. Aziz   
So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange a better one than him in purity, and nearer in filial affection
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
So we wanted that their Master substitute for them a better (son) than him in integrity and closer to kindness
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
“So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange, one better in refinement and closer in affection
Musharraf Hussain   
We hope their Lord will give them a righteous child in exchange, one who will be more caring.
Maududi   
and we desired that their Lord should grant them another in his place, a son more upright and more tender hearted
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
"So we wanted their Lord to replace for them with one who is better than him in purity and closer to mercy."
Mohammad Shafi   
So we desired that their Lord would give them in his place a boy better than him in purity and more compassionate

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Then we intended their Lord might give them one better than he in purity and nearer in affection.
Rashad Khalifa   
"We willed that your Lord substitute in his place another son; one who is better in righteousness and kindness.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
It was our wish that their Lord should grant them another in exchange, another better in purity and tenderness
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
So We intended that their Lord might give them in his place one better in purity and nearer to mercy
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
So We wanted/intended that their (B)'s Lord exchanges/substitutes (for) them (B) better than him and purification/correction and nearer/closer (in) mercy/relation
Bijan Moeinian   
It was the will of the Lord to replace him with a better, more righteous, and kinder son.”
Faridul Haque   
"So we wished that their Lord may bestow them a child - better, purer and nearer to mercy."
Sher Ali   
`So we desired that their Lord should give them in exchange one better than he in purity and closer in filial affection
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
So we intended that their Lord might bless them with (such) a substitute as would be better than this (boy) in purity and nearer (to his parents as well) in clemency and kindness
Amatul Rahman Omar   
`So we desired that their Lord should give them in his place (a child) superior to him in virtue and purity and more regardful to attend to the right of relationships
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
"So we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in righteousness and near to mercy

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
so we desired that their Lord should give to them in exchange one better than he in purity, and nearer in tenderness
George Sale   
Wherefore we desired that their Lord might give them a more righteous child in exchange for him, and one more affectionate towards them
Edward Henry Palmer   
So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange a better one than him in purity, and nearer in filial affection
John Medows Rodwell   
And we desired that their Lord might give them in his place a child, better than he in virtue, and nearer to filial piety
N J Dawood (2014)   
‘It was our wish that their Lord should grant them another in his place, a son more righteous and more filial

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
We wanted their Lord to give them, in exchange, someone better in purity and closer in affection.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
We wanted their Lord to replace him for them with someone better than him in purity and nearer to tenderness.
Sayyid Qutb   
And so we desired that their Lord grant them in his stead [a son] of greater purity than him, and closer in loving tenderness.
Ahmed Hulusi   
“So we wanted their Rabb to substitute for them one who is better, purer and closer to His grace.”
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
So we did intend that their Lord should change him for them for one better in purity and nearer in affection.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
"We decided", -Allah decrees and I am the instrument- to replace him by another child who would be a symbol of faith and stands manifest of kindness and mercy"
Mir Aneesuddin   
so we desired that their Fosterer should give them in exchange, (one) better than him in purity and nearer to mercy.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
"So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection
OLD Literal Word for Word   
So we intended that would change for them their Lord, a better than him (in) purity and nearer (in) affection