Henry Morris, in The New Defender’s Study Bible, suggests that the phrase “upon all the face of the earth” (Genesis 1:29) implies that, in the original creation, there were no barren deserts, frozen tundras, polar ice caps, or rugged, inhospitable mountain ranges (1995, p. 14). His reasoning is that a world designed by a perfect and benevolent Creator would have been entirely suitable for human habitation and abundant in provision for all living creatures.

While this interpretation may extend beyond the immediate wording of the text, it aligns with the broader biblical narrative of a once-perfect creation that was later subjected to corruption due to sin. Scripture teaches that after the Fall, creation itself was altered as part of God’s judgment upon humanity. Genesis 3:17-18 states that the ground was cursed because of Adam’s sin, bringing forth thorns and thistles, making cultivation difficult. If plant life was directly affected by the Fall, it is reasonable to conclude that the entire natural world suffered similar consequences. Harsh, uninhabitable regions—such as deserts, wastelands, and frozen landscapes—were likely not part of God’s original design but developed as the earth became subjected to decay and disorder.

This interpretation is further supported by Romans 8:20-22, which describes how creation was made “subject to vanity” and now “groaneth and travaileth in pain” as it awaits restoration. Just as sin brought death, suffering, and toil into human existence, it also introduced chaos and destruction into the natural world. The once-perfect balance of creation was disrupted, leading to extreme climates, natural disasters, and geographical formations that hinder human life rather than support it.

However, the Bible also points to a future hope. Revelation 21:1 speaks of a “new heaven and a new earth” where God will restore creation to its original state of perfection. In that renewed world, there will be no more pain, suffering, or environmental desolation, but instead, a flourishing and abundant paradise where God’s people will dwell with Him forever.

Thus, while Morris’s interpretation may involve some level of speculation, it is a reasonable conclusion based on the biblical framework of creation, fall, and redemption. The idea that the original earth was entirely habitable and free from desolation aligns with God’s character as a Creator of order, beauty, and life-giving abundance.