And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Allāh took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], "You must make it clear [i.e., explain it] to the people and not conceal it." But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. And wretched is that which they purchased.
لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُۥYou certainly make it clearlatubayyinunnahu
لِلنَّاسِto the mankindlilnnāsi
وَلَاand (do) notwalā
تَكۡتُمُونَهُۥconceal ittaktumūnahu
فَنَبَذُوهُThen they threw itfanabadhūhu
وَرَآءَbehindwarāa
ظُهُورِهِمۡtheir backsẓuhūrihim
وَٱشۡتَرَوۡاْand they exchangedwa-ish'taraw
بِهِۦ[with] itbihi
ثَمَنٗا(for) a pricethamanan
قَلِيلٗاۖlittleqalīlan
فَبِئۡسَAnd wretchedfabi'sa
مَا(is) whatmā
يَشۡتَرُونَthey purchaseyashtarūna
Tafsir
Remember, O Prophet, when Allah took a firm promise from the scholars among the Christians and Jews: that they should make the revelation of Allah clear to people, and not hide the guidance in it, or the evidence of the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him). But they broke the promise and paid no attention to it, hiding the truth and revealing what was false. They exchanged the promise of Allah for a small price, such as the position or wealth it might buy them. What a terrible price they traded Allah’s promise for!