عصب

Core meaning

To bind together: a group of men bound and strong, or a day in which everything tightens.

Uses

1. عُصْبَة → "a close-knit group", "a group", "a band" : men bound to one another: Youssof's brothers, the authors of the distortion, the bearers of keys.

   • «وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ» — "though we are a close-knit group" (12:8)
   • «لَتَنُوٓأُ بِٱلْعُصْبَةِ أُو۟لِى ٱلْقُوَّةِ» — "surely weighed heavily on a band of men, possessors of strength" (28:76)

2. عَصِيب → "hard" : a tight day, in which one feels caught.

   • «هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌۭ» — "This is a hard day" (11:77)

Evidence from the text

Youssof's brothers call themselves so, twice: their number and cohesion should count for more than the favored child (12:8), and keep him from the wolf (12:14). In 24:11, the word names those who brought the distortion: a group come from the very midst of the believers. In 28:76, a band of men, possessors of strength, is needed to carry the mere keys of a treasure.

In 11:77, the same tightening passes into time: Lut, seeing the messengers come, feels helpless on their account and calls the day that begins "a hard day".

Distinctions

• فرق — the group (فَرِيق): a part detached from a whole, whereas عُصْبَة names men bound to one another