ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ
Thumma k a na AAalaqatan fakhalaqa fasaww a and thereafter became a germcell - whereupon He created and formed [it] in accordance with what [it] was meant to be,16
 - Mohammad Asad
Then he became a leechlike mass, then Allah created him and fashioned him in due proportion,
 - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Then they became a clinging clot 'of blood',1 then He developed and perfected their form,
 - Mustafa Khattab
Then he became a clot; then (Allah) shaped and fashioned
 - Marmaduke Pickthall
Then did he become a leech-like clot; then did (Allah) make and fashion (him) in due proportion.
 - Abdullah Yusuf Ali