There isn’t a whole lot of marriage-specific teaching in the Bible. The two most common passages used to teach a Biblical foundation of marriage are Genesis 2 and Ephesians 5. In studying the Genesis 2 text recently, I was blown away by something I never realized.

One Hebrew word… Echad.

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). Echad is the Hebrew word for one. “… And they shall become one (echad) flesh.”

In Deuteronomy 6:4, quite possibly the most quoted Old Testament text in Jewish history, we find these words, “Hear O’ Israel. The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” The same word is used for one in this passage, “the Lord is one (echad).”

Why does God describe Himself as one in Deut. 6:4? Having an understanding of trinitarian theology helps us here. The trinity is one of the 2 distinctives of the Christian faith. It is a uniquely Christian concept. And no analogy can adequately describe the Biblical picture of the trinity. It’s an unbelievably deep and complex idea, beyond our capacity to fully understand.

The Bible teaches that there are 3 persons in the Godhead but only one God. There is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… ONE God.

The same word that God uses to describe Himself in Deut. 6:4 is used to describe His design of the marriage relationship in Genesis 2:24. ONE.

This is so convicting for me. The word used to define God’s relationship to Himself is the word used to define His intent for my own marriage. The same unity, devotion, synergy, intimacy, submission, and self-sacrifice that we see in the Godhead should characterize my relationship with Katie. Wow…

The high call of marriage lays us open. When I see and understand the role I’ve been given as a husband, I realize my desperate need for God.