s-l-b

Description

The Arabic root ṣ-l-b (صلب) carries the core meaning of hardness, strength, and firmness. In the Quran, it appears primarily in two contexts: as a verb meaning to crucify (reflecting the harsh, rigid nature of this punishment), and as a noun referring to the backbone or loins (representing physical strength and the source of offspring). This semantic connection between hardness/strength and both crucifixion and the spine reflects the root's fundamental association with rigidity and structural solidity, whether in the context of severe punishment or human anatomy.