תהלים, פרק ק״ד, פסוק ה׳

After the creation of the heavens and the upper elements, the focus shifts downward to the physical earth. The formation of our world involved placing the dry land in a fixed, unshakeable position within the universe. The primary approach among commentators is that God established the earth firmly in its natural place so that it remains completely stable and secure [שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד].

This stability is understood through the physical structure of the universe. The earth is viewed as a sphere positioned exactly in the center of everything, surrounded by the vast heavens like a tiny dot inside a giant circle [אבן עזרא, רד״ק]. Because it rests at the absolute middle, which is the lowest possible point, its natural tendency is to settle inward. As a result, it does not tilt, drift, or move in any direction [רד״ק, מאירי]. Looking back at the process of creation, this firm foundation was formed during the gathering of the waters. Originally, the elements of water and air were mixed together, completely covering the globe. God separated these elements, pulling the waters back into the oceans. Through this separation, the dry land was finally exposed and firmly established [מלבי״ם].

Beyond these physical laws of nature, there is also a spiritual foundation that holds the world in place. The existence of the world is deeply connected to human behavior and can be threatened by human actions. To prevent the world from collapsing, God built the earth upon a different kind of support: thirty righteous individuals who live in every generation. It is entirely due to their goodness and integrity that the earth remains standing and secure [אלשיך].

Ultimately, the earth is guaranteed to never collapse on its own [שטיינזלץ]. It is granted a lasting, enduring stability. However, unlike the absolute, timeless eternity that belongs only to God, the eternal nature of the earth simply means that its firm foundation will remain intact for the entire duration of this physical world's existence [מאירי].