←Prev   Ayah al-A`raf (The Heights, The Elevated Places) 7:138   Next→ 

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Muhammad Asad   
AND WE BROUGHT the children of Israel across the sea; and thereupon they came upon people who were devoted to the worship of some idols of theirs. Said [the children of Israel]: "O Moses, set up for us a god even as they have gods!" He replied: "Verily, you are people without any awareness [of right and wrong]
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
We brought the Children of Israel across the sea and they came upon a people devoted to idols. They demanded, “O Moses! Make for us a god like their gods.” He replied, “Indeed, you are a people acting ignorantly!
Safi Kaskas   
We brought the children of Israel across the sea, where they came across people who were devoted to worshipping idols. [The children of Israel] said, "Moses, give us a god like the gods they have." He replied, "You are ignorant people!"

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَجَـٰوَزۡنَا بِبَنِیۤ إِسۡرَ ٰۤءِیلَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَ فَأَتَوۡا۟ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمࣲ یَعۡكُفُونَ عَلَىٰۤ أَصۡنَامࣲ لَّهُمۡۚ قَالُوا۟ یَـٰمُوسَى ٱجۡعَل لَّنَاۤ إِلَـٰهࣰا كَمَا لَهُمۡ ءَالِهَةࣱۚ قَالَ إِنَّكُمۡ قَوۡمࣱ تَجۡهَلُونَ ۝١٣٨
Transliteration (2021)   
wajāwaznā bibanī is'rāīla l-baḥra fa-ataw ʿalā qawmin yaʿkufūna ʿalā aṣnāmin lahum qālū yāmūsā ij'ʿal lanā ilāhan kamā lahum ālihatun qāla innakum qawmun tajhalūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And We led across (the) Children (of) Israel the sea. Then they came upon a people devoted to idols of theirs. They said, "O Musa! Make for us a god like what they have gods. He said, "Indeed, you (are) a people ignorant.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
AND WE BROUGHT the children of Israel across the sea; and thereupon they came upon people who were devoted to the worship of some idols of theirs. Said [the children of Israel]: "O Moses, set up for us a god even as they have gods!" He replied: "Verily, you are people without any awareness [of right and wrong]
M. M. Pickthall   
And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and they came unto a people who were given up to idols which they had. They said: O Moses! Make for us a god even as they have gods. He said: Lo! ye are a folk who know not
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
We took the Children of Israel (with safety) across the sea. They came upon a people devoted entirely to some idols they had. They said: "O Moses! fashion for us a god like unto the gods they have." He said: "Surely ye are a people without knowledge
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
We brought the Children of Israel across the sea and they came upon a people devoted to idols. They demanded, “O Moses! Make for us a god like their gods.” He replied, “Indeed, you are a people acting ignorantly!
Safi Kaskas   
We brought the children of Israel across the sea, where they came across people who were devoted to worshipping idols. [The children of Israel] said, "Moses, give us a god like the gods they have." He replied, "You are ignorant people!"
Wahiduddin Khan   
We brought the children of Israel across the sea and they came upon a people who were devoted to their idols. They said, Moses, give us a god just like the gods these people have. He said, You are indeed an ignorant people
Shakir   
And We made the children of Israel to pass the sea; then they came upon a people who kept to the worship of their idols They said: O Musa! make for us a god as they have (their) gods He said: Surely you are a people acting ignorantly
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And We brought the Children of Israel over the sea. Then, they approached on a folk who give themselves up to their idols. They said: O Moses! Make for us a god like the gods they have. He said: Truly, you are an ignorant folk!
T.B.Irving   
We led the Children of Israel across the sea. They came upon a people who were dedicated to some idols they had. They said: "Moses, make a god for us like the gods they have." He said: "You are a folk who act ignorantly.
Abdul Hye   
And We made the children of Israel across the sea. Then they came upon a people devoted to idols they had. They said: “O Moses! Make for us a deity worthy of worship as they have.” He (Moses) said: “Surely, you are a people who know nothing.
The Study Quran   
And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and they came upon a people clinging to their idols. They said, “O Moses! Make for us a god as they have gods.” He said, “Truly you are an ignorant people
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
We led the Children of Israel across the sea. Upon encountering a people kneeling before their idols, they said, “O Moses, make a god for us, as they have gods.” He responded, “You are truly an ignorant people.”
Talal Itani (2012)   
And We delivered the Children of Israel across the sea. And when they came upon a people who were devoted to some statues of theirs, they said, 'O Moses, make for us a god, as they have gods.' He said, 'You are truly an ignorant people.'
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And We made Bani Israiel to cross over the sea, so they intermingled with a nation who are staying over the idols (they had carved) for themselves. They said: “O Musa! Appoint to us an ilah (a god) as to them are (their) aaliha (gods)!” (Musa) said: “Verily, you are a nation who indulge in ignorance
M. Farook Malik   
We made the Children of Israel cross the (Red) sea. On their way they came across a people who were worshipping their idols. They said: "O Moses fashion for us an Ilah (a god for worship) like the gods of these people." He replied: "You are indeed very ignorant people
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And We made the Seeds (or: sons) of Israel) pass over the sea. Then they came upon a people consecrating themselves to idols they had. They said, "O Musa, (Moses) make for us a god as they have gods." He said, "Surely you are a people who are ignorant
Muhammad Sarwar   
We helped the children of Israel to cross the sea. They came to a people who worshipped idols. The Israelites demanded Moses to make gods for them like those of the idol-worshippers. Moses told them, "You are an ignorant people
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
We made the children of Isra‘il cross the sea, then they came across a people sitting in devotion before their idols. They (the Israelites) said, .O Musa, make a god for us like they have gods. He said, .You are really an ignorant people
Shabbir Ahmed   
After they crossed the sea (into Sinai (2:50-51)), the Children of Israel passed by some people who were worshiping statues. They said, 'O' Moses! Make a god for us, like the gods they have." Moses said, "You are a folk who wish to lurk in darkness
Dr. Munir Munshey   
We brought the children of Israel across the sea to safety. There, they came across a nation devoted to the worship of its idols. The children of Israel said, "Oh Musa, let us have our god like the gods they have!" Musa said, "You really are a foolish ignorant people."
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
And We took the Children of Israel (safely) to the other side of the sea. And (here) they found a people who were completely devoted to some idols that they had (worshipped) they said: "O Musa (Moses)! Put together for us a god like the gods that they have." He said: "Surely, you are a people without Knowledge
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And We took the Children of Israel across the sea; then they came upon a people intent in devotion to [some] idols of theirs. They said, "O Moses, make for us a god just as they have gods." He said, "Indeed, you are a people behaving ignorantly
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And We let the Children of Israel cross the sea, then they came upon a people who were devoted to idols made for them; they said: "O Moses, make for us a god like they have gods" He said: "You are an ignorant people!"
Abdel Haleem   
We took the Children of Israel across the sea, but when they came upon a people who worshipped idols, they said, ‘Moses, make a god for us like theirs.’ He said, ‘You really are foolish people
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And We led the Children of Isra'il across the sea. Then they came upon a people cleaving to the idols they had. T'hev said: Musa! make for us a god even as they have gods. He said: verily ye are a people given to ignorance
Ahmed Ali   
When We brought the children of Israel across the sea, and they came to a people who were devoted to their idols, they said: "O Moses, make us also a god like theirs." "You are ignorant," he replied
Aisha Bewley   
We conveyed the tribe of Israel across the sea and they came upon some people who were devoting themselves to some idols which they had. They said, ´Musa, give us a god just as these people have gods.´ He said, ´You are indeed an ignorant people.
Ali Ünal   
And We led the Children of Israel across the sea, and then they came upon a people who were devoted to the worship of some idols that they had (particular to themselves). They said: "O Moses! Make for us a deity even as they have deities!" He replied: "You are indeed a people given to ignorance
Ali Quli Qara'i   
We carried the Children of Israel across the sea, whereat they came upon a people cleaving to certain idols that they had. They said, ‘O Moses, make for us a god like the gods that they have.’ He said, ‘You are indeed an ignorant lot
Hamid S. Aziz   
And We passed the children of Israel safely across the sea. They came upon a people devoted to their idols, and said, "O Moses! Make for us a god as the gods they have." Said he, "Verily, you are ignorant people
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And We made the children of Israel cross the sea, then they came upon a people devoted to their idols. They said: “Moses, make a god for us like their gods.” He said: “Indeed you are ignorant people,
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
We took the Children of Israel across the sea. They came upon a people devoted entirely to the idols they had. They said, “O Moses, create for us a god like the gods they have.” He said, “Surely you are a people without knowledge
Musharraf Hussain   
After We had led the Israelites across the sea, they came across people who worshipped idols. The Israelites requested, “Musa, let us have a god like their gods.” He said, “You are ignorant people.
Maududi   
And We led the Children of Israel across the sea; and then they came upon a people who were devoted to the worship of their idols. They said: ´0 Moses, make for us a god even as they have gods.´ Moses said: ´You are indeed an ignorant people.´
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And We let the Children of Israel cross the sea, then they came upon a people who were devoted to statues made for them; they said: "O Moses, make for us a god like they have gods?" He said: "You are an ignorant people!
Mohammad Shafi   
And We enabled the Children of Israel to cross the sea. Then they came upon a people given to the worship of their idols. They said, "O Moses! Make a god for us like the ones they have." He said, "You are indeed an ignorant people

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And We brought the children of Israel across the river, and then they came upon a people sitting devotedly before their idols. They said, 'O Musa, make for us a God just as they have so many gods. He said, 'Surely you are an ignorant people'.
Rashad Khalifa   
We delivered the Children of Israel across the sea. When they passed by people who were worshiping statues, they said, "O Moses, make a god for us, like the gods they have." He said, "Indeed, you are ignorant people.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
and We moved the Children of Israel from one side of the sea to the other, and they came upon a nation zealously devoted to the idols they had. They said to Moses: 'Make a god for us, as they have gods. ' Moses replied: 'You are indeed an ignorant nation
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And We took the Children of Israel across the sea. Then they came to a people who were devoted to their idols. They said: O Moses, make for us a god as they have gods. He said: Surely you are an ignorant people
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And We made with Israel's sons and daughters cross/pass through the large body of water (sea/ocean) , so they came/passed by on a nation occupying themselves/adhering on (to) idolized or worshipped idols/statues for them, they said: "You Moses, make/create for us a god, as/like (there are) gods for them." He said: "That you are a nation being lowly/ignorant/foolish ."
Bijan Moeinian   
After letting the Israelites pass through the sea, they started their journey and came upon a people who were worshipping their idols. The Israelites [who were fascinated by their rituals] said: "Moses, Make a similar god for us [so that we can sing and dance and engage in a kind of fascinating rituals that these people are involved with.] Moses replied: "What an ignorant people you are."
Faridul Haque   
And We transported the Descendants of Israel across the sea - so they came across a people who used to squat in seclusion in front of their idols; they said, "O Moosa! Make a God for us, the way they have so many gods!" He said, "You are indeed an ignorant people."
Sher Ali   
And WE brought the Children of Israel across the sea and they came to a people who were devoted to their idols. They said, `O Moses, make for us a god just as they have gods.' He said, `Surely you are an ignorant people
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And We brought the Children of Israel across the (Red) Sea where they came upon a people who were squatting around their idols (for worship) in deep devotion. They (the Children of Israel) said: ‘O Musa (Moses)! Make for us too a god like the ones they have.’ Musa (Moses) said: ‘You are surely a very ignorant people
Amatul Rahman Omar   
And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea. Then they came to a people who clung to some idols they had (for worship). They said, `O Moses! make for us a god like the gods they have.' He (-Moses) said, `You are a foolish people who act through lack of knowledge
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And We brought the Children of Israel (with safety) across the sea, and they came upon a people devoted to some of their idols (in worship). They said: "O Moosa (Moses)! Make for us an ilahan (a god) as they have aliha (gods)." He said: "Verily, you are a people who know not (the Majesty and Greatness of Allah and what is obligatory upon you, i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone, the One and the Only God of all that exists)."

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
And We brought the Children of Israel over the sea, and they came upon a people cleaving to idols they had. They said, 'Moses, make for us a god, as they have gods.' Said he, 'You are surely a people who are ignorant
George Sale   
And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea and they came to a people who were devoted to their idols. They said, 'O Moses, make for us a god just as they have gods.' He said, 'Surely you are an ignorant people
Edward Henry Palmer   
And with the children of Israel we passed across the sea; and they came unto a people devoted to their idols, and said, 'O Moses! make for us a god as they have gods.' Said he, 'Verily, ye are ignorant people.
John Medows Rodwell   
And we brought the children of Israel across the sea, and they came to a people who gave themselves up to their idols. They said, "O Moses! make us a god, as they have gods." He said, "Verily, ye are an ignorant people
N J Dawood (2014)   
And We led the Israelites across the sea, and they came upon a people who worshipped idols which they had. They said to Moses: ‘Make us a god like the gods they have.‘ He said: ‘You are indeed an ignorant people

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
And We took the children of Israel across the sea until when they came upon a people who were devoted to the worship of their idols, they said, “O Moses! Make a god for us as there are gods for them” He said, “You indeed are a people who are ignorant.”
Munir Mezyed   
We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and they came upon a people who were devoted to their idols. They said: "O’ Moses, make for us a god just as they have gods.” He said:“Indeed, you are a people who have no knowledge of (Allâh)!"
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And We made the Children of Israel cross the sea and they came to a people devoted to idols of theirs and said: oh Musa (Moses), make us an idol like they have idols. He said: you are foolish people.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
We took the Children of Israel across the sea. They came upon a people devoted to their own idols. (The Israelites) said, “O Moses, create a god like their gods for us.” He said, “You certainly are a people without any sense.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
And We made the Children of Israel pass over the sea, then they came upon a people who were devoted to some human-shaped idols of theirs. They said, “O Moses, make for us a god as they have gods.” He said, “You are truly speaking ignorantly.”
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
We led the Children of Israel across the sea. They came upon a people who were dedicated to some idols they had. They said: "Moses, make a god for us like the gods they have." He said: "You are a folk who act ignorantly.
Samy Mahdy   
And We overstepped with Israel's children, the sea. So, they came upon a kinfolk who were devoted to Idols for them, they said, “O Moses, make for us a God, as they have Gods.” He said, “You are a kinfolk who ignore.”
Sayyid Qutb   
We led the Children of Israel across the sea; and thereupon they came upon people who were dedicated to the worship of some idols of theirs. Said [the Children of Israel]: “Moses, set up a god for us like the gods they have.” He replied: “You are indeed an ignorant people.
Ahmed Hulusi   
We took the Children of Israel across the sea... They came upon a community of people who were worshipping their idols. They said, “O Moses... Make a god for us just like the gods they have” (Moses said) “Indeed, you are so ignorant!”
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And We made the Children of Israel to pass the sea; then they came upon a people cleaving to idols they had. They said: � O� Moses! make for us a god, as they have gods �. He (Moses) said: � Verily you are a people behaving ignorantly �
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
And We brought Bani Israel safely across the sea, and there, they came across a people who paid divine honours to idols**. They demanded of Mussa to make for them an idol as an object of worship similar to the idols worshipped by those people. In response, said Mussa: "You people are indeed ignorant and you are a wicked impudent boldfaced people who have no shame of their sins"
Mir Aneesuddin   
And We took the children of Israel across the sea. Then they came across a people who were devoted to their idols. They said, "O Musa ! make for us a god like the gods they have," he said, "You are certainly an ignorant people,

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
We took the Children of Israel (with safety) across the sea. They came upon a people devoted entirely to some idols they had. They said: "O Moses! fashion for us a god like unto the gods they have." He said: "Surely ye are a people without kn owledge
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And We led across (the) Children of Israel the sea. Then they came upon a people devoted to idols of theirs. They said, "O Musa! Make for us a god like what they have gods. He said, "Indeed, you (are) a people ignorant
OLD Transliteration   
Wajawazna bibanee isra-eela albahra faataw AAala qawmin yaAAkufoona AAala asnamin lahum qaloo ya moosa ijAAal lana ilahan kama lahum alihatun qala innakum qawmun tajhaloona