8398. tebel
Lexical Summary
tebel: world, inhabited, inhabited world

Original Word: תֵּבֵל
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: tebel
Pronunciation: tay-BAYL
Phonetic Spelling: (tay-bale')
KJV: habitable part, world
NASB: world, inhabited, inhabited world
Word Origin: [from H2986 (יָבַל - bring)]

1. the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited)
2. (by extension) the globe
3. (by implication) its inhabitants
4. (specifically, a participle) land, as Israel, Egypt, Babylon

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
confusion

From yabal; the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited); by extension, the globe; by implication, its inhabitants; specifically, a partic. Land, as Babylonia, Palestine -- habitable part, world.

see HEBREW yabal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from yabal
Definition
world
NASB Translation
inhabited (1), inhabited world (1), world (34).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
תֵּבֵל noun feminineNahum 1:5 (apparently masculine Isaiah 14:17) world, poetic synonym of אֶרֶץ (perhaps originally as productive, compare יְבוּל, בּוּל, but this sense not clearly maintained; compare also Assyrian tabalu in êlî tabali, by land, "" êlî nâru, by water (river) MeissnZA 1889, iv. 3, 261, 263, 265 f. SASmAssyrian Letters iv. plate viii. ix, 1. 33) — usually absolute ׳ת (no article), construct Job 37:12; Proverbs 8:31; world, usually "" ׃אֶרֶץ 1 Samuel 2:8 (׳י set ׳ת on מְצֻקֵי אֶרֶץ), Isaiah 14:21; Isaiah 24:4; Isaiah 34:1; Jeremiah 10:12 = Jeremiah 51:15, 1 Chronicles 16:30 (= Psalm 96:10 below) Job 34:13; Psalm 19:5; Psalm 77:19 = Psalm 97:4; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 96:13 (+ עַמִּים), Psalm 98:9 (+ id.); וְישְׁבֵי ׳ת בָהּ Nahum 1:5; Psalm 24:1; ׳ישְׁבֵי ת Psalm 33:8; Isaiah 18:3 ("" שֹׁכְנֵי ארץ), Isaiah 26:9,18; Lamentations 4:12; וּמְלֹאָהּ ׳ת Lam 89:12 (+ שָׁמַיִם, compare ארץ ומלאה Lam 24:1); אָ֑רְצָה ׳עַלמְּֿנֵי ת Job 37:12 upon the face of the world of earth (earthly world, the whole expanse of earth); אַרְצוֺ ׳בְּת Proverbs 8:31; on the other hand ׳עַפְרוֺת ת Proverbs 8:26; ׳ת alone Job 18:18; other combinations וּמְלֹאָהּ ׳ת Psalm 50:12 (compare Psalm 89:12 above); ׳מְּנֵיתֿ Isaiah 27:6 (compare Job 37:12 above); ׳מֹסְדוֺת ת 2 Samuel 22:16 foundations of the world = Psalm 18:16, compare ׳תִּכּוֺן ת Psalm 93:1; Psalm 96:10 (= 1 Chronicles 16:30); world as object of ׳יs judgment 1 Chronicles 9:9 ("" לְאֻמִּים; see also 1Chron 96:13 above), compare וישׁבי בה ׳ת 1Chron 98:7 ("" יַם), Isaiah 13:11 ("" רשׁעים); as devastated by Babylonian conqueror Isaiah 14:17 ("" עָרָיו).

Topical Lexicon
Semantic Range and Conceptual Nuances

תֵּבֵל (tebel) designates the ordered, habitable world—the realm of human life and activity—viewed as distinct from heaven and as the arena over which the Lord exercises comprehensive sovereignty. Unlike אֶרֶץ (erets), which can refer to land in a local or territorial sense, tebel consistently carries a global perspective, highlighting the earth as a unified, inhabited system sustained by God. The term frequently appears in elevated poetic or prophetic contexts to underscore the majesty, stability, and moral accountability of the created order.

Distribution in the Canon

Tebel occurs approximately thirty-six times, concentrated in Psalms (nearly half of the usages), with additional appearances in Job, Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Nahum, Habakkuk, and 2 Samuel. The word is virtually absent from the narrative sections of Torah and Former Prophets, reinforcing its function as a theological rather than geographic term.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Ownership and Sovereignty

• “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1).
• “The heavens are Yours, and also the earth; the world and all it contains—You founded them” (Psalm 89:11).

These passages tie tebel to God’s absolute proprietorship, countering any worldview that limits His rule to Israel alone. Israel’s covenant God is depicted as Creator-King of the entire inhabited earth.

2. Cosmic Stability Under God’s Reign

• “Indeed, the world is firmly established; it cannot be moved” (Psalm 93:1).
• “Say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved’” (Psalm 96:10).

Tebel emphasizes the reliability of the created order. The world’s steadiness is not inherent but derives from the Lord’s ongoing governance. This theme undergirds biblical confidence in natural law, seasons, and the regularity of history.

3. Universal Call to Worship

• “Let the sea resound, and all that fills it, the world and all who live in it” (Psalm 98:7).
• “They have no speech, they use no words… Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:3-4).

The term extends Israel’s worship vocabulary to include all peoples. Creation itself becomes a missionary agent, heralding God’s glory to the entire tebel.

4. Moral Accountability and Judgment

• “The earth mourns and fades; the world languishes and withers… for they have transgressed the laws” (Isaiah 24:4-5).
• “He will judge the peoples with equity” (Psalm 96:10).

Tebel is not only the stage for God’s blessings but also the venue of His righteous judgment. Prophets use the word to warn that the whole inhabited earth is liable to the covenant justice of its Maker.

5. Redemptive and Messianic Expectations

• “Before the mountains were born… from everlasting to everlasting You are God” (Psalm 90:2), framing the Messiah’s kingdom in light of everlasting dominion over the tebel.
• “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).

These passages anticipate a future in which the inhabited world fully acknowledges the Lordship of Christ, an eschatological vision that propels missionary endeavor.

Historical and Cultural Setting

Ancient Near Eastern literature often portrayed multiple deities partitioning cosmic realms. By employing tebel, Israel’s poets and prophets assert a polemic: the entire inhabited world belongs to the one true God. This monotheistic claim challenged surrounding nations and sustained Israel’s hope during exile. When Babylon claimed universal dominion (Isaiah 14:17), Scripture reminded the faithful that real authority over the tebel rested with Yahweh alone.

Representative Passages

2 Samuel 22:16 – The foundations of the world are exposed at the Lord’s rebuke, highlighting His power to unravel creation in judgment.
Job 18:18 – The wicked are “chased from the world,” underscoring ultimate moral accountability.
Proverbs 8:31 – Wisdom is portrayed as “rejoicing in His inhabited world,” linking divine wisdom to the delight and order of the tebel.
Isaiah 13:11 – “I will punish the world for its evil,” connecting global judgment to moral rebellion.
Nahum 1:5 – “The earth trembles at His presence, the world and all who dwell in it,” reaffirming sovereignty during Assyria’s downfall.

Implications for Ministry Today

1. Global Mission Mandate

If the Lord claims the tebel, the Gospel is designed for every inhabitant. The Great Commission finds Old Testament resonance in the call for universal worship embedded in tebel passages.

2. Stewardship of Creation

Ownership by God invests the physical world with dignity. Believers steward resources responsibly, honoring the Creator’s design and anticipating the new creation.

3. Confidence in Providence

The stability of the tebel, upheld by God, offers comfort amid societal upheaval. Leaders can shepherd congregations with assurance that history remains under divine control.

4. Ethical Accountability

Prophetic uses of tebel remind the church to proclaim both grace and judgment. Societies are accountable to God’s moral order, and faithful ministry addresses both redemption and righteousness.

Conclusion

תֵּבֵל portrays the inhabited world as a theater of God’s glory, governance, and grace. Its biblical footprint testifies that every nation, ecosystem, and era lies within His redemptive purpose. Recognizing this enlarges worship, motivates mission, and fortifies hope until the day “the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15).

Forms and Transliterations
בְּתֵבֵ֣ל בתבל וְתֵבֵ֑ל וְתֵבֵ֖ל וּֽמִתֵּבֵ֥ל ומתבל ותבל תֵ֝בֵ֗ל תֵ֭בֵל תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל תֵּ֫בֵ֥ל תֵּ֭בֵל תֵּבֵ֑ל תֵּבֵ֖ל תֵּבֵ֛ל תֵּבֵ֥ל תֵּבֵֽל׃ תֵּבֵל֙ תֵבֵ֑ל תֵבֵ֖ל תֵבֵ֣ל תֵבֵֽל׃ תבל תבל׃ bə·ṯê·ḇêl bəṯêḇêl beteVel tê·ḇêl ṯê·ḇêl têḇêl ṯêḇêl teVel ū·mit·tê·ḇêl ūmittêḇêl umitteVel veteVel wə·ṯê·ḇêl wəṯêḇêl
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Samuel 2:8
HEB: וַיָּ֥שֶׁת עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם תֵּבֵֽל׃
NAS: And He set the world on them.
KJV: and he hath set the world upon them.
INT: set and the world

2 Samuel 22:16
HEB: יִגָּל֖וּ מֹסְד֣וֹת תֵּבֵ֑ל בְּגַעֲרַ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה
NAS: The foundations of the world were laid bare
KJV: the foundations of the world were discovered,
INT: were laid the foundations of the world the rebuke of the LORD

1 Chronicles 16:30
HEB: אַף־ תִּכּ֥וֹן תֵּבֵ֖ל בַּל־ תִּמּֽוֹט׃
NAS: Indeed, the world is firmly established,
KJV: him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable,
INT: Indeed is firmly the world lest will not be moved

Job 18:18
HEB: אֶל־ חֹ֑שֶׁךְ וּֽמִתֵּבֵ֥ל יְנִדֻּֽהוּ׃
NAS: And chased from the inhabited world.
KJV: and chased out of the world.
INT: into darkness the inhabited and chased

Job 34:13
HEB: וּמִ֥י שָׂ֝֗ם תֵּבֵ֥ל כֻּלָּֽהּ׃
NAS: has laid [on Him] the whole world?
KJV: or who hath disposed the whole world?
INT: Who has laid confusion the whole

Job 37:12
HEB: עַל־ פְּנֵ֖י תֵבֵ֣ל אָֽרְצָה׃
NAS: it On the face of the inhabited earth.
KJV: them upon the face of the world in the earth.
INT: On the face of the inhabited earth

Psalm 9:8
HEB: וְה֗וּא יִשְׁפֹּֽט־ תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק יָדִ֥ין
NAS: And He will judge the world in righteousness;
KJV: And he shall judge the world in righteousness,
INT: and He will judge the world righteousness will execute

Psalm 18:15
HEB: וַֽיִּגָּלוּ֮ מוֹסְד֪וֹת תֵּ֫בֵ֥ל מִגַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה
NAS: And the foundations of the world were laid bare
KJV: and the foundations of the world were discovered
INT: were laid and the foundations of the world your rebuke LORD

Psalm 19:4
HEB: קַוָּ֗ם וּבִקְצֵ֣ה תֵ֭בֵל מִלֵּיהֶ֑ם לַ֝שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ
NAS: to the end of the world. In them He has placed
KJV: to the end of the world. In them hath he set
INT: their line to the end of the world and their utterances the sun

Psalm 24:1
HEB: הָאָ֣רֶץ וּמְלוֹאָ֑הּ תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל וְיֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃
NAS: and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell
KJV: and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell
INT: the earth and all the world dwell

Psalm 33:8
HEB: כָּל־ יֹשְׁבֵ֥י תֵבֵֽל׃
NAS: the inhabitants of the world stand in awe
KJV: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe
INT: all the inhabitants of the world

Psalm 50:12
HEB: כִּי־ לִ֥י תֵ֝בֵ֗ל וּמְלֹאָֽהּ׃
NAS: I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains.
KJV: I would not tell thee: for the world [is] mine, and the fulness
INT: tell for the world and all

Psalm 77:18
HEB: הֵאִ֣ירוּ בְרָקִ֣ים תֵּבֵ֑ל רָגְזָ֖ה וַתִּרְעַ֣שׁ
NAS: lit up the world; The earth
KJV: lightened the world: the earth
INT: lit the lightnings the world trembled and shook

Psalm 89:11
HEB: לְךָ֥ אָ֑רֶץ תֵּבֵ֥ל וּ֝מְלֹאָ֗הּ אַתָּ֥ה
NAS: also is Yours; The world and all it contains,
KJV: [are] thine, the earth also [is] thine: [as for] the world and the fulness
INT: also the earth the world and all You

Psalm 90:2
HEB: וַתְּח֣וֹלֵֽל אֶ֣רֶץ וְתֵבֵ֑ל וּֽמֵעוֹלָ֥ם עַד־
NAS: to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting
KJV: the earth and the world, even from everlasting
INT: gave to the earth and the world everlasting to

Psalm 93:1
HEB: אַף־ תִּכּ֥וֹן תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל בַּל־ תִּמּֽוֹט׃
NAS: Indeed, the world is firmly established,
KJV: [wherewith] he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished,
INT: Indeed is firmly the world lest will not be moved

Psalm 96:10
HEB: אַף־ תִּכּ֣וֹן תֵּ֭בֵל בַּל־ תִּמּ֑וֹט
NAS: Indeed, the world is firmly established,
KJV: reigneth: the world also shall be established
INT: Indeed is firmly the world lest will not be moved

Psalm 96:13
HEB: הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ יִשְׁפֹּֽט־ תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק וְ֝עַמִּ֗ים
NAS: He will judge the world in righteousness
KJV: he shall judge the world with righteousness,
INT: the earth will judge the world righteousness and the peoples

Psalm 97:4
HEB: הֵאִ֣ירוּ בְרָקָ֣יו תֵּבֵ֑ל רָאֲתָ֖ה וַתָּחֵ֣ל
NAS: lit up the world; The earth
KJV: enlightened the world: the earth
INT: lit his lightnings the world saw and trembled

Psalm 98:7
HEB: הַ֭יָּם וּמְלֹא֑וֹ תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל וְיֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃
NAS: and all it contains, The world and those who dwell
KJV: and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell
INT: the sea and all the world dwell

Psalm 98:9
HEB: הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ יִשְׁפֹּֽט־ תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק וְ֝עַמִּ֗ים
NAS: He will judge the world with righteousness
KJV: shall he judge the world, and the people
INT: the earth will judge the world righteousness and the peoples

Proverbs 8:26
HEB: וְ֝רֹ֗אשׁ עָפְר֥וֹת תֵּבֵֽל׃
NAS: the first dust of the world.
KJV: of the dust of the world.
INT: the first dust of the world

Proverbs 8:31
HEB: מְ֭שַׂחֶקֶת בְּתֵבֵ֣ל אַרְצ֑וֹ וְ֝שַׁעֲשֻׁעַ֗י
NAS: Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
KJV: Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth;
INT: Rejoicing the world his earth and my delight

Isaiah 13:11
HEB: וּפָקַדְתִּ֤י עַל־ תֵּבֵל֙ רָעָ֔ה וְעַל־
NAS: Thus I will punish the world for its evil
KJV: And I will punish the world for [their] evil,
INT: will punish and the world for evil and

Isaiah 14:17
HEB: שָׂ֥ם תֵּבֵ֛ל כַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר וְעָרָ֣יו
NAS: Who made the world like a wilderness
KJV: [That] made the world as a wilderness,
INT: made the world A wilderness cities

36 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8398
36 Occurrences


bə·ṯê·ḇêl — 1 Occ.
tê·ḇêl — 32 Occ.
ū·mit·tê·ḇêl — 1 Occ.
wə·ṯê·ḇêl — 2 Occ.

8397
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