The word(s) "were" appears 411 time(s) in 363 verse(s) in Quran in Muhammad Habib Shakir translation.

(171) Say: As for him who remains in error, the Beneficent Allah will surely prolong his length of days, until they see what they were threatened with, either the punishment or the hour; then they shall know who is in more evil plight and weaker in forces

(172) He said: Nay! cast down. then lo! their cords and their rods-- it was imaged to him on account of their magic as if they were running.

(173) And the magicians were cast down making obeisance; they said: We believe in the Lord of Haroun and Musa.

(174) They said: We did not break (our) promise to you of our own accord, but we were made to bear the burdens of the ornaments of the people, then we made a casting of them, and thus did the Samiri suggest.

(175) Nay! say they: Medleys of dreams; nay! he has forged it; nay! he is a poet; so let him bring to us a sign as the former (prophets) were sent (with).

(176) And We did not make them bodies not eating the food, and they were not to abide (forever).

(177) Do not fly (now) and come back to what you were made to lead easy lives in and to your dwellings, haply you will be questioned.

(178) They said: O woe to us! surely we were unjust.

(179) Do not those who disbelieve see that the heavens and the earth were closed up, but We have opened them; and We have made of water everything living, will they not then believe?

(180) And certainly apostles before you were scoffed at, then there befell those of them who scoffed that at which they had scoffed.