Lexical Summary tebel: world, inhabited, inhabited world Original Word: תֵּבֵל 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 Originfrom 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). 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). 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). 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). 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. 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. 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 wəṯêḇêlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 1 Chronicles 16:30 Job 18:18 Job 34:13 Job 37:12 Psalm 9:8 Psalm 18:15 Psalm 19:4 Psalm 24:1 Psalm 33:8 Psalm 50:12 Psalm 77:18 Psalm 89:11 Psalm 90:2 Psalm 93:1 Psalm 96:10 Psalm 96:13 Psalm 97:4 Psalm 98:7 Psalm 98:9 Proverbs 8:26 Proverbs 8:31 Isaiah 13:11 Isaiah 14:17 36 Occurrences |
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