The Qur’anic Semantics of the Root ب ر ج: Lexical Meaning and Contextual Variation

Abstract

This study analyzes the semantic field of the root ب ر ج in the Qur'an by placing the lexical meaning and contextual meaning as two complementary stages of analysis. The research problem departs from the tendency to understand al-Burūj only as a cluster of stars, even though the same root is used for the high and sturdy fortress and the behavior of tabarruj. The method used is a literature study with a lexicographic analysis of Lisān al-ʿArab and Mufradāt fī Gharīb al-Qur'ān, then followed by an analysis of siyāq on all uses of the root ب ر ج presented in the source text. The results of the study show the connection of meaning through the core ideas of height, protrusion, and visibility. In the context of cosmology, burūj refers to a majestic and visible celestial structure or station; In the context of defense, burūj musyayyadah refers to man-made structures that are tall and sturdy but incapable of resisting death; while tabarruj expresses the act of appearing or jewelry. This analysis suggests that such variations in meaning can be understood as contextual extensions of one coherent semantic field. The findings enrich the linguistic reading of the Qur'an by connecting lexical meanings, verse contexts, and semantic relationships between words.