The Skin of Marriage
The skin is the external surface of the body and its largest organ in weight. It has two layers, the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin and the dermis is its connected inner layer. In the anatomy of marriage, the epidermis layer represents the husband and the dermis layer represents the wife.
Epidermis = Husband
The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin, and as such it is the first point of physical contact the body has with the outside world. Its primary function is to cover the dermis layer of the skin and protect the rest of the body from the external environment. This includes heat, microbes, chemicals, and wounds, which makes the epidermis a part of the immune system, too (Proksch et al., 2008). Melanin, the pigment that is found in the epidermis and gives skin its color, aids by absorbing ultraviolet light. As the outermost layer of the covering, the epidermis also manages the amount of water that enters and exits the skin. The epidermis also contains no blood vessels. Therefore, a cut to this layer alone will not bleed. However, the dermis below does have blood vessels, so any abrasion that reaches this far will cause bleeding with potential to severely damage the body. This layer also contains the sensory receptor cells that detect low vibrations and respond to light touch and detect texture, shape, and curvature (Morrison et al., 2009).
In the anatomy of marriage, the epidermis layer represents the husband, who is the covering of his wife and children and protects them from external danger. This protection is both physical and spiritual, and he does this through practical financial provision (food, clothing, shelter, and other material needs) and teaching, correction, and discipline that aligns with Scripture. Since water is Spirit in the body (John 4:14; 7:37-39), his leadership manages the outward expressions of the inner working of the Holy Spirit in the members of his household—not through dictatorship but through his own willful submission to Her leading and the guidance set forth in Scripture. He absorbs all surface-level attacks that come from outside and does his best to prevent his wife and children from being hurt, knowing physical and emotional pain will deeply affect them more than it ever would him. Furthermore, because his sensory perception is not as intense as his wife’s in some areas, he will listen and consider her when she alerts him of something wrong.
Dermis = Wife
The dermis layer of the skin lies directly beneath the epidermis layer and is connected to it by a basement membrane that provides tissue and cell support and functions as a complex signaling platform (Sekiguchi & Yamada, 2018). The dermis is thicker than the epidermis. Its main function is to support the epidermis, as the dermis is essential to its survival (Tortora & Derrickson, 2017). It is biologically active, holding sensory receptors for touch, temperature, and pain. (James G. & Jeffery J., 2019). It also holds the sweat, oil, and apocrine glands, as well as lymphatic and blood vessels. This layer also has collagen and elastic fibers that give it strength, extensibility (the ability to stretch), and elasticity (the ability to return to its original shape afterward; Tortora & Derrickson, 2017).
In the anatomy of marriage, the dermis layer represents the wife, whose willful submission supports and assists the husband in the leadership of the family. As the dermis is essential to the survival of the epidermis, the wife is essential to her husband’s survival. Her sensory sensitivity allows her to be a source of wisdom for him and their children. As the dermis contributes to life and health via the blood and lymph (body fluid) vessels, the wife brings life and health to her family. She does this physically by being a source of comfort and sexual intimacy for her husband and birthing the next generation. She does this spiritually by continuously encouraging them all to pursue the things of the Lord and offering kind words and advice. Her ability to stretch and return to her original shape is her ability to be as functional and adaptable as her family (the entire body) needs her to be. This is done through the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who yields the fruit of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).
Skin = Husband & Wife
The epidermis and dermis layers of the skin are interlocked by the undersurface to the epidermis and the extending finger-like projections of the dermis layer that extend into it. These projections give the epidermis the grip (strength) it needs to hold onto the dermis. In this way the layers display the unity of marriage. Interlocked, they are not easily separated, and each one contributes to the oneness and survival of the marriage by their individual unique qualities and attributes.
REFERENCES
Morrison, K., Miesegaes, G., Lumpkin, E., & Maricich, S. (2009). Mammalian Merkel Cells are Descended From the Epidermal Lineage. US National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 20 January 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2783667/.
Proksch, E., Brandner, J., & Jensen, J. (2008). The Skin: An Indispensable Barrier. Semantic Scholar. Retrieved 16 January 2022, from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-skin%3A-an-indispensable-barrier-Proksch-Brandner/38de6c962a08d16a4aa4edf40659ed94cd1f7b6b.
Tortora, G., & Derrickson, B. (2017). Tortora's Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (pp. 131-132). John Wiley & Sons.