Does the boundary “that the waters might not again cover the earth” (Psalm 104:9) conflict with evidence of sea-level changes over time?

1. The Scriptural Text and Its Context

Psalm 104:9 reads: “You set a boundary they cannot cross; they will never again cover the earth.” This verse appears in a poetic context celebrating creation, using language that parallels God’s work of fashioning the earth in Genesis. The psalm recounts God’s sovereignty over the waters, the boundaries He established, and His ongoing providential care.

In Genesis, we read that waters once flooded the whole earth (Genesis 7). Afterward, God established a covenant in which He promised never again to destroy the earth by a global flood (Genesis 9:11). Psalm 104:9 thus resonates with that covenantal assurance.

2. Understanding the “Boundary” in Psalm 104:9

The “boundary” God set for the waters, according to the psalmist, prevents the waters from ever again inundating the entire planet in a cataclysmic Flood like that described in the days of Noah. This statement acknowledges that God, as Creator, rules over nature in such a way that He does not allow another worldwide deluge to annihilate all life.

In the broader scriptural narrative, these boundaries do not preclude local or regional floods, nor do they dispute that ocean basins may vary to a degree or that coastlines may shift over time. Instead, the text addresses the global reoccurrence of a single, planet-wide Flood.

3. Harmony with Observable Sea-Level Fluctuations

Those who study geological records note that sea levels have changed throughout history. Even secular geologists agree that glaciers have formed and melted, altering coastlines in some regions. The question is whether these fluctuations contradict Psalm 104:9.

Shifting coastlines or rising seas in certain regions do not equate to a global flood imposing itself on every landmass simultaneously. Some creationist geologists, such as Dr. Andrew Snelling, have proposed catastrophic plate tectonics models suggesting rapid changes during and immediately following the Genesis Flood. These models accommodate significant geological activity, including the uplifting of mountain ranges and receding of ocean waters into newly deepened ocean basins. This scenario would allow for post-Flood variations in sea level in localized areas without contradicting the “boundary” principle in Psalm 104:9.

4. The Covenant in Genesis and Local Flood Phenomena

Genesis 9:11 affirms God’s promise: “Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” Scripture itself acknowledges that floods still occur—some of them quite destructive—but never on the same universal scale. Therefore, any legitimate or observed sea-level rise, such as that resulting from regional factors or cyclical changes in climate, remains consistent with the biblical record that states entire global submergence would not repeat.

5. Archaeological and Historical Corroborations

• Ancient Flood Narratives: Widespread accounts of a massive Flood appear in multiple civilizations (e.g., Mesopotamian Gilgamesh Epic). While some details replicate or deviate from Scripture, their very existence suggests that a singular, significant Flood event left a historical and cultural memory.

• Water-Laid Sediments and Marine Fossils on Continents: Observations of shells and marine fossils high in mountain regions around the world have traditionally been explained by catastrophic flooding. Modern creationist researchers, such as those working with Answers in Genesis, have pointed to such fossil graveyards to argue for one principal Flood event rather than many separate, planet-wide inundations. These discoveries align with the concept of a global Flood in the past and the promise that it would not happen again.

• Post-Flood Settlements and Civilizations: Archaeologists studying ancient cultures find that, while catastrophic local floods occurred, human civilizations have indeed spread far and wide without evidence of another universal flood wiping out all civilization. Cities excavated in Sumer, Egypt, and the Indus Valley, for instance, show continuous cultural development, consistent with a single, great Flood event at a much earlier date, rather than ongoing globe-blanketing floods.

6. Scientific Interpretations and Creation Models

Creation scientists who hold to a young-earth perspective propose that geologic layers conventionally attributed to millions of years could have been deposited rapidly under catastrophic conditions—most prominently during the Genesis Flood. Among notable theories is Dr. John Baumgardner’s “Catastrophic Plate Tectonics,” which posits rapid subduction and tectonic shifts within a biblical timeframe.

Once the Flood’s waters receded, God “set a boundary” (Psalm 104:9) that the oceans would not cross again all at once. However, localized changes in sea level—due to volcanic activity, thermal expansion, glacial melting, or shifts in ocean basin shape—fit within this model without negating Scripture.

7. Literary and Theological Emphasis

Psalm 104 is primarily a hymn of praise focused on God’s creative work. The phrasing highlights His power—He “laid the foundations of the earth” (Psalm 104:5) and consequently controls the seas. When read in unison with Genesis 9:11, the text conveys God’s commitment to preserve creation from another cataclysmic global Flood.

Regarding the local sea-level changes we observe in geology and modern times, these are not a contradiction but an expected part of a dynamic environment permitted under God’s ongoing sustainment. The verse does not claim that water would never shift; it claims that global judgment by water would never happen again.

8. Conclusions and Key Takeaways

• Psalm 104:9 promises no repeated worldwide flood like that in Noah’s day.

• Geologic and historical data show local or regional flooding and sea-level changes do occur, but these do not equate to a universal deluge.

• Archaeological records and the cultural memory of ancient civilizations align with a single major Flood event in the past, rather than repeated planet-wide inundations.

• Models within young-earth creation science (e.g., catastrophic plate tectonics) explain how major post-Flood geologic shifts are possible without compromising the boundary God set.

• This passage underscores God’s sovereignty and faithfulness to His covenant, rather than eliminating ordinary and sometimes extreme shifts in climate or local seas.

Therefore, there is no substantive conflict between Psalm 104:9 (that the waters might not again cover the entire earth) and the observable record of sea-level changes. The “boundary” in Scripture specifically alludes to the absence of another global, creation-wide deluge, while acknowledging that God still allows the natural processes that result in regional or cyclical water-level variations.