Translation:
They ˹later˺ sold him for a cheap price, just a few silver coins—only wanting to get rid of him.5
They ˹later˺ sold him for a cheap price, just a few silver coins—only wanting to get rid of him.5
Translation:
They sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams 1657 counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him! 1658
They sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams 1657 counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him! 1658
Commentary:
1657 Dirham; from Greek, drachma, a small silver coin, which varied in weight and value at different times and in different States. (R).
1658 And so the most precious of human lives in the age was sold into slavery for a few silver pieces! (R). 1658-A. In popular tradition the wife of the Egyptian courtier is identified as Zulaykha. [Eds].
5 Other possible translations: 1. “… so little did they value him.” 2. “… they had no interest in him.” In any case, they wanted to sell him immediately before someone claimed him. According to some Quran commentators, it was Joseph’s brothers who sold him to the travellers after he was picked up from the well. The verse states that Joseph was sold for a few worthless coins. Ironically, in 12:88 Joseph’s brothers came to him after he became Egypt’s Chief Minister, begging for supplies and saying that the only money they could afford was a few worthless coins. This is when Joseph revealed his true identity to them.