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Muhammad Asad   
[And finally We told him:] “Now take in thy hand a small bunch of grass, and strike therewith, and thou wilt not break thine oath!” for, verily, We found him full of patience in adversity: how excellent a servant [of Ours], who, behold, would always turn unto Us
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
˹And We said to him,˺ “Take in your hand a bundle of grass, and strike ˹your wife˺ with it, and do not break your oath.” We truly found him patient. What an excellent servant ˹he was˺! Indeed, he ˹constantly˺ turned ˹to Allah˺.
Safi Kaskas   
[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch of grass and strike with it, and do not break your oath." We found him patient, an excellent servant, one who repeatedly turned back [to Us].

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَخُذۡ بِیَدِكَ ضِغۡثࣰا فَٱضۡرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحۡنَثۡۗ إِنَّا وَجَدۡنَـٰهُ صَابِرࣰاۚ نِّعۡمَ ٱلۡعَبۡدُ إِنَّهُۥۤ أَوَّابࣱ ۝٤٤
Transliteration (2021)   
wakhudh biyadika ḍigh'than fa-iḍ'rib bihi walā taḥnath innā wajadnāhu ṣābiran niʿ'ma l-ʿabdu innahu awwābu
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
"And take in your hand a bunch and strike with it and (do) not break (your) oath." Indeed, We [We] found him patient, an excellent slave. Indeed, he repeatedly turned.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
[And finally We told him:] “Now take in thy hand a small bunch of grass, and strike therewith, and thou wilt not break thine oath!” for, verily, We found him full of patience in adversity: how excellent a servant [of Ours], who, behold, would always turn unto Us
M. M. Pickthall   
And (it was said unto him): Take in thine hand a branch and smite therewith, and break not thine oath. Lo! We found him steadfast, how excellent a slave! Lo! he was ever turning in repentance (to his Lord)
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
"And take in thy hand a little grass, and strike therewith: and break not (thy oath)." Truly We found him full of patience and constancy. How excellent in Our service! ever did he turn (to Us)
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
˹And We said to him,˺ “Take in your hand a bundle of grass, and strike ˹your wife˺ with it, and do not break your oath.” We truly found him patient. What an excellent servant ˹he was˺! Indeed, he ˹constantly˺ turned ˹to Allah˺.
Safi Kaskas   
[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch of grass and strike with it, and do not break your oath." We found him patient, an excellent servant, one who repeatedly turned back [to Us].
Wahiduddin Khan   
We said to Him, Take a handful of twigs in your hand and strike with that but do not break your oath. We found him steadfast. What an excellent servant! He turned constantly to his Lord.[35]
Shakir   
And take in your hand a green branch and beat her with It and do not break your oath; surely We found him patient; most excellent the servant! Surely he was frequent in returning (to Allah)
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And take in thy hand a bundle of rushes and strike with it and fail not thy oath. Truly, We found him one who remains steadfast. How excellent a servant. Truly, he was penitent.
T.B.Irving   
"Take a bundle (of twigs) in your hand and beat [your wife] with it, and do not break your word." We found him to be patient; how favored was such a servant. He was so attentive!
Abdul Hye   
(Allah said): “Take a bundle of branches (thin grass) in your hand and strike with it (your wife to fulfill your oath of 100 strikes which was made during sickness), and don’t break your oath.” Truly! We found him patient. How excellent is the devotee! Surely, he was often turning in repentance (to Us)!
The Study Quran   
And, “Take with thy hand a bundle of rushes and strike therewith, and break not thine oath.” Truly We found him to be steadfast. What an excellent servant! Truly he turned oft [unto God]
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
“And take in your hand a bundle and strike with it, and don’t break your oath.” We found him patient. What an excellent servant he was, always returning.
Talal Itani (2012)   
'Take with your hand a bundle, and strike with it, and do not break your oath.' We found him patient. What an excellent servant! He was obedient
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And catch (your) anxiety with your own hand (i.e., control the anxiety with your own will-power) and move about with it (i.e., continue your daily-routine even being afflicted of it), and do not commit any undesirable act (like invocking false deities) Truly We, We found him patiently perseverant, (and) an excellent Abd. Verily, he (was) ever-returning (to Us, in repentance)
M. Farook Malik   
Then, to fulfill his oath of giving his wife one hundred strikes which he made during his sickness, We said: "Take a bunch of twigs and strike with it and do not break your oath." Certainly We found him full of patience. He was an excellent devotee, who turned to Us over and over again
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And (we said) "Take in your hand a jumble of rushes, then strike therewith, and do not break (your oath)." Surely We found him a patient (man). How excellent a bondman he was! Surely he was a constant resorter (to Us)
Muhammad Sarwar   
We told him, "Take a handful of straw. Strike your wife with it to fulfill your oath." We found him to be patient. What an excellent servant he was. He was certainly most repenting
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
And (We said to him,) .Take (a bundle of) thin twigs in your hand, and strike with it, and do not violate your oath. Surely, We found him very enduring. He was really an excellent servant. Surely, he was great in turning (to Us, in penitence and praise)
Shabbir Ahmed   
(And finally We told him,) "Now gather your strength and travel the land and break not your pledge." Behold, We found him steadfast. How excellent a servant! In every situation he turned to Our Commands
Dr. Munir Munshey   
(We said to Ayub) "Do not break your oath. (Instead) take a bundle of thin grass and with it (lightly) strike (the person you swore to lash; you were sick at that time)." We really found him patient. What a wonderful person! Indeed, he constantly turned to Us in repentance
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
"And take in your hand a little (bunch of thin) grass, and strike (your wife with) it: And do not break your promise." Truly, We found him (Ayub or Job) full of patience and constancy. How well in Our service did he ever return (to Us)
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah ]
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
"And take in your hand a bundle and travel with it, and do not break your oath." We found him steadfast. What a good servant! He was obedient
Abdel Haleem   
‘Take a small bunch of grass in your hand, and strike [her] with that so as not to break your oath.’ We found him patient in adversity; an excellent servant! He, too, always turned to God
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And take in thine hand a handful of twigs, and strike therewith, and break not thine oath. Verily We! We found him patient. How excellent a bondman! Verily he was oft-returning
Ahmed Ali   
"Take a handful of herbs," (We said to him), and apply and rub them, and do not make a mistake." We found him patient in adversity, an excellent devotee, always turning in repentance
Aisha Bewley   
´Take a bundle of rushes in your hand and strike with that but do not break your oath.´ We found him steadfast. What an excellent slave! He truly turned to his Lord.
Ali Ünal   
(We also told him): "Take in your hand a bundle of rushes and strike with it: do not break your oath." Surely, We found him full of patience and constancy. How excellent a servant! He was surely one ever-turning to God in penitence
Ali Quli Qara'i   
[We told him:] ‘Take a faggot in your hand and then strike [your wife] with it, but do not break [your] oath.’ Indeed We found him to be patient. What an excellent servant! Indeed he was a penitent [soul]
Hamid S. Aziz   
And (It was said,) "Take in your hand a green branch (or grass) and beat her (his rebellious wife gently) with it (rather than with cruelty), and break not your oath. Surely We found him patient; a most excellent servant! Surely he was frequent in t
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
(We told him:) “Take a bunch (of hay) in your hand and strike with it and do not break your oath.” Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant, indeed he was repentant.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
“And take in your hand a little grass, and bend it, but do not break it.” Truly We found him full of patience and constancy, and how excellent he was in Our service, and he constantly turned to Us
Musharraf Hussain   
Allah told him: “Take a handful of grass and strike your wife with it so you don’t break your oath.” We found him to be patient. What a wonderful servant! So devout
Maududi   
(and We said to him): "Take in your hand a bundle of rushes and strike with it, and do not break your oath." Indeed We found him steadfast. How excellent a servant (of Ours) he was. Indeed he constantly turned (to his Lord)
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
"And take in your hand a bundle and go forth with it, and do not break your oath." We found him steadfast. What a good servant! He was obedient
Mohammad Shafi   
[And We told him,] "Now take a handful of herbs and strike therewith, and you shall not break your oath!" We did indeed find him patient in adversity — an excellent devotee, who would always turn to Us

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And We said, 'take in your hand a broom of dry grass and strike there with and break not your oath. Undoubtedly, We found him steadfast, What an excellent bondman was he? Verily he is of returning.
Rashad Khalifa   
"Now, you shall travel the land and preach the message, to fulfill your pledge." We found him steadfast. What a good servant! He was a submitter.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
(We said to him): 'Take a bundle of rushes and strike with it; and do not break your oath. ' We found him to be patient, a good worshiper and he was penitent
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And take in thy hand few worldly goods and earn goodness therewith and incline not to falsehood. Surely We found him patient; most excellent the servant! Surely he (ever) turned (to Us)
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And take with your hand a handful of grass/a handful, so strike/beat with it, and do not break oath, that We, We found him patient blessed/praised the slave/servant , that he truly is repentant
Bijan Moeinian   
Now instead of beating [your wife who has shown weakness at the height of your trial in the misery], as you have sworn to your Lord, use only weak straws to strike [as a symbol of fulfilling your oath.] I found him patient and an excellent servant of mine who returned to Me over and over again
Faridul Haque   
And We said, “Take a broom in your hand and strike her with it, and do not break your vow”; We indeed found him patiently enduring; what an excellent bondman! He is indeed most inclined
Sher Ali   
And WE commanded him: `Take in thy hand a handful of dry twigs and strike therewith, and incline not towards falsehood.' Indeed, WE found him steadfast. An excellent servant was he. Surely, he was constantly turning to God
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
(O Ayyub [Job]!) Take a broom of (one hundred) twigs in your hand, and strike (your wife once) with that (to fulfil your oath), and do not break your oath. Surely, We found him steadfast. How excellent a servant was (Ayyub [Job])! Surely, he was oft-returning (to Us) in repentance
Amatul Rahman Omar   
And (We commanded him,) `Take in your hand a handful of twigs and strike (the riding beast) therewith. And do not ever incline towards falsehood. Indeed, We found him steadfast. An excellent servant was he. He was always turning (towards God) in obedience
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
"And take in your hand a bundle of thin grass and strike therewith (your wife), and break not your oath . Truly! We found him patient. How excellent (a) slave! Verily, he was ever oft-returning in repentance (to Us)

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
and, 'Take in thy hand a bundle of rushes, and strike therewith, and do not fail in thy oath.' Surely We found him a steadfast man. How excellent a servant he was! He was a penitent
George Sale   
And We said unto him, take a handful of rods in thy hand, and strike thy wife therewith; and break not thine oath. Verily We found him a patient person: How excellent a servant was he! For he was one who frequently turned himself unto Us
Edward Henry Palmer   
'and take in thy hand a bundle, and strike therewith, and break not thy oath!' Verily, we found him patient, an excellent servant; verily, he turned frequently to us
John Medows Rodwell   
And we said, "Take in thine hand a rod, and strike with it, nor break thine oath." Verily, we found him patient! How excellent a servant, one who turned to Us was he
N J Dawood (2014)   
Take a bunch of twigs and beat with it; do not break your oath.‘¹ We found him steadfast; a good and penitent man

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
And hold with your hand a bundle of branches and with it hit and do not break your oath. Truly We found him one who was patient. How best of the slaves. Truly he was a crier [unto his Lord].
Munir Mezyed   
Take in your hand a bunch of basil leaves and strike therewith (your wife), so that you may not break your oath. Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Surely he was one who constantly sought Forgiveness of Allâh.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And take a bunch of leaves in your hand and strike with it and do not break your vow. We found him to be patient, a blessed servant, for he was repentant.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
[Job’s wife had lost patience, and Job had vowed to punish her.] [Allah commanded:] “Take just a little handful of grass and whisk [her] with it, so you will not fault on your vow.” Truly We found (Job) full of patience. How excellent a servant! He was truly repentant.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
“And take with yoursg hand a bundle of grass, and strike with it so as not to breach (your oath).” Indeed, We found him patient. What an excellent servant; indeed, he often turns unto Us.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
"Take a bundle (of twigs) in your hand and beat [your wife] with it, and do not break your word." We found him to be patient; how favored was such a servant. He was so attentive!
Samy Mahdy   
"And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath." Surely, We found him a patient, gracious slave. Surely, he was ever turning in repentance [to Allah].
Sayyid Qutb   
'Take in your hand a bunch of grass and strike with it, and you will not then break your oath.' We found him patient in adversity. How excellent a servant of Ours; he would always turn to Us.
Ahmed Hulusi   
“Take in your hand a bunch and strike with it so that your promise may be fulfilled!” We found him to be patient... A beautiful servant he was! Indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back (to Allah – one who often experienced his essential reality).
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And (We said to him:) Take in your hand a bunch of (thin) stick and strike (your wife) with it, and do not break your oath. Verily We found him patient, an excellent servant. Verily he was a penitent.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
And in fulfillment of his oath that he would beat his wife hundred strokes We said to him: Hold in your hand a bunch of a hundred blades of grass and strike her therewith once and gently to avoid breaking your oath. We found him really long suffering to affliction and unwearied in the face of difficulties and hardship. How excellent a worshipper He was and how in lowliest plight did He always repentant stand
Mir Aneesuddin   
(It was further said), “Take in your hand a bundle of twigs (of herbs) then strike with it and do not disobey. We certainly found him patient, an excellent servant, he was certainly one who turned (to Allah).

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
"And take in thy hand a little grass, and strike therewith: and break not (thy oath)." Truly We found him full of patience and constancy. How excellent in Our service! ever did he turn (to Us)
OLD Literal Word for Word   
"And take in your hand a bunch and strike with it and (do) not break (your) oath." Indeed, We [We] found him patient, an excellent slave. Indeed, he repeatedly turned
OLD Transliteration   
Wakhuth biyadika dighthan faidrib bihi wala tahnath inna wajadnahu sabiran niAAma alAAabdu innahu awwabun