The question to address today is whether the idea of a globe is ever found in scripture. If so, where is it found, and what information can we obtain by looking at this?
We begin with the Hebrew word tebel (תֵּבֵל) (Strong's H8398). This word is generally interpreted as the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited); but by extension, the globe; or, by implication, its inhabitants, or a habitable part the world.
Let’s take a look at some examples. But as we do, I am going to use the word globe where the Hebrew word tebel is found:
Shemu’el Rishon (1 Samuel) 2:8
He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are YAHUAH’S, and he has set the globe upon them.
Shemu’el Sheniy (2 Samuel) 22:16
And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the globe were discovered, at the re-buking of YAHUAH, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 10:12
He has made the earth by his power, he has established the globe by his wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 51:15
He has made the earth by his power, he has established the globe by his wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
Nachum (Nahum) 1:5
The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the globe, and all that dwell therein.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 9:8
And he shall judge the globe in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 18:15
Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the globe were discovered at your rebuke, O YAHUAH, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 19:4
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the outermost parts of the globe. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Tehilliym (Psalm) 24:1
THE earth is YAHUAH’S, and the fulness thereof; the globe, and those who dwell thereon.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 33:8
Let all the earth fear YAHUAH: let all the inhabitants of the globe stand in awe of him.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 50:12
If I were hungry, I would not tell you: for the globe is mine, and the fulness thereof.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 77:18
The voice of your thunder was in heaven: the lightnings lightened the globe: the earth trembled and shook.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 89:11
The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours: as for the globe and the fulness thereof, you have founded them.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 90:2
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the globe, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are EL.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 93:1
Current translation:
YAHUAH reigns, he is clothed with majesty; YAHUAH is clothed with strength, wherewith he has girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
Psa 93:1 יהוה YAHUAH מלך malak - reigns גאות ge’oth - majesty לבשׁ labash - wrapped לבשׁ labash - wrapped יהוה YAHUAH עז oz - strength התאזר h’t’azar - belt אף aph - also תכון tikun תבל tebel - globe בל (bal) תמוט׃ (t’mote)
Correction:
YAHUAH reigns. He is wrapped in majesty; wrapped in a belt of strength, and restores the globe lest it be out of course.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 96:10
Current translation:
Say among the heathen that YAHUAH reigns: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
Psa 96:10 אמרו Amar - said בגוים b’goyim – the nations יהוה YAHUAH מלך malak - reigns אף aph - also תכון tikun - restores תבל tebel – the globe בל bal - lest תמוט t’mote – be out of course ידין y’doon - judge עמים amiym – the people במישׁרים׃ b’mashariym - evenness.
Correction:
Said the nations: YAHUAH reigns, and restores the globe lest it be out of course. He shall judge the people with evenness.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 96:13
Before YAHUAH: for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth: he shall judge the globe with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 97:4
His lightnings enlightened the globe: the earth saw, and trembled.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 98:7
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the globe, and those who dwell thereon.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 98:9
Before YAHUAH; for he comes to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the globe, and the people with equity.
Mishlei (Proverbs) 8:26
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the globe.
Mishlei (Proverbs) 8:31
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his globe; and my delights were with את eth-the sons of men.
Iyov (Job) 18:18
He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased off the globe.
Iyov (Job) 34:13
Who has given him a charge over the earth? Or who has disposed the whole globe?
Iyov (Job) 37:12
And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatever he commands them upon the face of the globe in the earth.
Divrei Hayamiym Ri’shon (1 Chronicles) 16:30
Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it not be moved.
Of course, this is not the most accurate translation. Here is the Ivriyt (Hebrew) for review.
1Ch 16:30 חילו chiyl - twist מלפניו m’l’paniym – the face כל kole - all הארץ ha’arets – the earth אף aph - also תכון tikun – establish/restore תבל tebel – the globe בל bal - lest תמוט׃ t’mote – be out of course.
Mote (מוֹט) (Strong’s H413): This word is a primitive root which is generally interpreted to mean: to waver; by implication to slip, shake, fall: to be carried, to be cast, to be out of course, to be fallen in decay.
Correction:
Twist the face of all the earth and restore the globe, lest it fall out of course.
Let us consider this term of art that continuously appears in some of these passages, that is interpreted here as the globe, lest it fall out of course. In the Ivriyt (Hebrew) we see the phrase tebel bal t’mote. Once again, here are the words:
tebel (תֵּבֵל) (Strong's H8398): from H2986; the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited); by extension, the globe; by implication, its inhabitants; a habitable part, world.
bal (בַּל) (Strong’s H1077): properly a failure; by implication nothing; usually (adverbially) not at all; also, lest: - lest, neither, no, none (that . . .), not (any), nothing.
mote (מוֹט) Strong's H4131): a primitive root; to waver; by implication, to slip, shake, fall: —be carried, cast, be out of course, be fallen in decay.
Therefore, it is well within the use of these terms to translate the passage as: the globe, lest it be out of course.