Psalms 104:9

Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

Thou hast set {H7760} a bound {H1366} that they may not pass over {H5674}; that they turn not again {H7725} to cover {H3680} the earth {H776}.

You determined a boundary they could not cross; they were never to cover the earth again.

You set a boundary they cannot cross, that they may never again cover the earth.

Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; That they turn not again to cover the earth.

Commentary

Psalms 104:9 is a powerful declaration of God's enduring control and wisdom in creation. It highlights the divine establishment of immutable boundaries for the world's waters, preventing them from overwhelming the dry land as they once did.

Context

This verse is part of Psalm 104, a magnificent hymn of praise that celebrates God as the majestic Creator and Sustainer of the universe. The psalm closely parallels the creation account in Genesis 1, detailing God's work from forming the heavens to providing for all living creatures. Verse 9 specifically reflects the third day of creation, when God gathered the waters into seas and made the dry land appear (Genesis 1:9-10). It also subtly alludes to God's promise after the Great Flood.

Key Themes

  • God's Sovereignty and Control: The verse powerfully declares God's absolute authority over the forces of nature, particularly the vast and often chaotic oceans. He is not merely a creator but an active sustainer who maintains perfect order.
  • Divine Order and Boundaries: God established fixed laws and limits for the natural world, ensuring its stability and preventing a chaotic return to a watery abyss. This speaks to God's profound wisdom in designing and governing creation.
  • The Stability and Preservation of the Earth: The phrase "that they turn not again to cover the earth" provides profound assurance of the earth's enduring structure. It echoes God's covenant with Noah, promising never again to destroy all life by a universal flood (Genesis 9:11), reinforcing His faithfulness to His creation.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "bound" is gevul (Χ’ΦΌΦ°Χ‘Χ•ΦΌΧœ), which literally means a border, limit, or boundary. Its use here emphasizes a fixed, unalterable demarcation that the waters cannot transgress. This is not a temporary barrier but a divinely ordained, permanent separation and control over the seas.

Related Scriptures

The concept of God setting limits for the sea is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing His power and wisdom. In Job 38:8-11, God challenges Job, asking, "Who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? ... And set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?" Similarly, Proverbs 8:29 describes wisdom being present when God "gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment." These passages reinforce the divine decree that governs the natural world.

Practical Application

Psalms 104:9 offers profound comfort and a powerful call to worship. In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, this verse reminds us of God's unwavering control and His faithfulness to His creation. It encourages believers to trust in His divine order, knowing that even the most powerful natural forces are subject to His will. This understanding can bring peace amidst uncertainty, inspire awe for the Creator who holds all things in His hands, and foster confidence in His ability to sustain and govern all aspects of our lives, just as He controls the mighty oceans.

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Cross-References

  • Job 38:10

    And brake up for it my decreed [place], and set bars and doors,

  • Job 38:11

    And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

  • Genesis 9:11

    And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

  • Genesis 9:15

    And I will remember my covenant, which [is] between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

  • Jeremiah 5:22

    Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand [for] the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

  • Job 26:10

    He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.

  • Isaiah 54:9

    For this [is as] the waters of Noah unto me: for [as] I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
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