Quran Universe
69:40

إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوۡلُ رَسُولٖ كَرِيمٖ

Innahu laqawlu rasoolin kareemin

[That] indeed, the Qur'an is the word of a noble Messenger.

Word by word
  1. إِنَّهُۥIndeed,it (is)
  2. لَقَوۡلُsurely (the) Word
  3. رَسُولٖ(of) a Messenger
  4. كَرِيمٖnoble
Al-Haqqah · 69:40Makkah

This is the word of a noble Messenger.

What the oath is sworn for

The chain of the message
Allahthe Speaker
conveyed by
Jibrilthe angelic messenger
to
Muhammad ﷺthe human Messenger
Whose words
his ownwhat they claimed
conveyed from Allaha messenger delivers

Ibn Kathir explains the word messenger carries the meaning of conveying, because a messenger delivers from the sender. In Surat At-Takwir it is used for Jibril, here for Muhammad ﷺ, who carried the trust faithfully.

A courier brings you a letter. You do not think the words are his. The Quran came through noble messengers, delivered without change. It is a letter to you.

The Quran is a book written by a man.

It is Allah's word, delivered faithfully by noble messengers.

Try this

Before reading Quran today, remind yourself: this is Allah speaking to me.

Related81:19
Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 69:38)

So, I swear by whatsoever you see (38)And by whatsoever you see not (39)That this is verily the word of an honored Messenger (40)It is not the word of a poet, little is that you believe (41)Nor is it the word of a soothsayer, little is that you remember (42)This is the revelation sent down from the Lord of all that exists (43)

The Qur'an is the Speech of Allah

Allah swears by His creation, in which some of His signs can be seen in His creatures. These also indicate the perfection of His Names and Attributes. He then swears by the hidden things that they cannot see. This is an oath swearing that the Qur'an is His Speech, His inspiration and His revelation to His servant and Messenger, whom He chose to convey His Message, and the Messenger carried out this trust faithfully. So Allah says,

فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَا تُبْصِرُونَ - وَمَا لَا تُبْصِرُونَ - إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ

(So I swear by whatsoever you see, and by whatsoever you see not, that this is verily the word of an honored Messenger.) meaning, Muhammad ﷺ. Allah gave this description to him, a description which carries the meaning of conveying, because the duty of a messenger is to convey from the sender. Therefore, Allah gave this description to the angelic Messenger in Surat At-Takwir, where he said,

إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ - ذِي قُوَّةٍ عِنْدَ ذِي الْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍ - مُطَاعٍ ثَمَّ أَمِينٍ

(Verily, this is the Word of (this Qur'an brought by) a most honorable messenger. Owner of power (and high rank) with Allah, the Lord of the Throne. Obeyed and trustworthy.)(81:19-21) And here, it refers to Jibril. Then Allah says,

وَمَا صَاحِبُكُمْ بِمَجْنُونٍ

(and your companion is not a madman.)(81:22) meaning, Muhammad ﷺ.

وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ بِالْأُفُقِ الْمُبِينِ

(And indeed he saw him in the clear horizon.)(81:23) meaning, Muhammad ﷺ saw Jibril in his true form in which Allah created him.

وَمَا هُوَ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ بِضَنِينٍ

(And he is not Danin with the Unseen.)(81:24) meaning, suspicious.

وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَيْطَانٍ رَجِيمٍ

(And it (the Qur'an) is not he word of the outcast Shaytan.)(81:25) This is similar to what is being said here.

وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَاعِرٍ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَا تُؤْمِنُونَ - وَلَا بِقَوْلِ كَاهِنٍ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

(It is not the word of a poet, little is that you believe! Nor is it the word of soothsayer, little is that you remember!) So in one instance Allah applies the term messenger to the angelic Messenger and in another instance He applies it to the human Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ). This is because both of them are conveying from Allah that which has been entrusted to them of Allah's revelation and Speech. Thus, Allah says,

تَنْزِيلٌ مِنْ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ 

(This is the revelation sent down from the Lord of all that exists.)