diff --git a/lib/sqlite3/database.rb b/lib/sqlite3/database.rb
index 8c10df35..a4db9671 100644
--- a/lib/sqlite3/database.rb
+++ b/lib/sqlite3/database.rb
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@
 require "sqlite3/fork_safety"
 
 module SQLite3
-  # The Database class encapsulates a single connection to a SQLite3 database.
-  # Its usage is very straightforward:
+  # == Overview
+  #
+  # The Database class encapsulates a single connection to a SQLite3 database.  Here's a
+  # straightforward example of usage:
   #
   #   require 'sqlite3'
   #
@@ -19,28 +21,72 @@ module SQLite3
   #     end
   #   end
   #
-  # It wraps the lower-level methods provided by the selected driver, and
-  # includes the Pragmas module for access to various pragma convenience
-  # methods.
+  # It wraps the lower-level methods provided by the selected driver, and includes the Pragmas
+  # module for access to various pragma convenience methods.
   #
-  # The Database class provides type translation services as well, by which
-  # the SQLite3 data types (which are all represented as strings) may be
-  # converted into their corresponding types (as defined in the schemas
-  # for their tables). This translation only occurs when querying data from
+  # The Database class provides type translation services as well, by which the SQLite3 data types
+  # (which are all represented as strings) may be converted into their corresponding types (as
+  # defined in the schemas for their tables). This translation only occurs when querying data from
   # the database--insertions and updates are all still typeless.
   #
-  # Furthermore, the Database class has been designed to work well with the
-  # ArrayFields module from Ara Howard. If you require the ArrayFields
-  # module before performing a query, and if you have not enabled results as
-  # hashes, then the results will all be indexible by field name.
+  # Furthermore, the Database class has been designed to work well with the ArrayFields module from
+  # Ara Howard. If you require the ArrayFields module before performing a query, and if you have not
+  # enabled results as hashes, then the results will all be indexible by field name.
+  #
+  # == Thread safety
+  #
+  # When SQLite3.threadsafe? returns true, it is safe to share instances of the database class
+  # among threads without adding specific locking. Other object instances may require applications
+  # to provide their own locks if they are to be shared among threads.  Please see the README.md for
+  # more information.
+  #
+  # == SQLite Extensions
+  #
+  # SQLite3::Database supports the universe of {sqlite
+  # extensions}[https://www.sqlite.org/loadext.html]. It's possible to load an extension into an
+  # existing Database object using the #load_extension method and passing a filesystem path:
+  #
+  #   db = SQLite3::Database.new(":memory:")
+  #   db.enable_load_extension(true)
+  #   db.load_extension("/path/to/extension")
+  #
+  # As of v2.4.0, it's also possible to pass an object that responds to
+  # +#sqlite_extension_path+. This documentation will refer to the supported interface as
+  # +_ExtensionSpecifier+, which can be expressed in RBS syntax as:
+  #
+  #   interface _ExtensionSpecifier
+  #     def sqlite_extension_path: () → String
+  #   end
+  #
+  # So, for example, if you are using the {sqlean gem}[https://github.com/flavorjones/sqlean-ruby]
+  # which provides modules that implement this interface, you can pass the module directly:
+  #
+  #   db = SQLite3::Database.new(":memory:")
+  #   db.enable_load_extension(true)
+  #   db.load_extension(SQLean::Crypto)
+  #
+  # It's also possible in v2.4.0+ to load extensions via the SQLite3::Database constructor by using
+  # the +extensions:+ keyword argument to pass an array of strings or extension specifiers:
+  #
+  #   db = SQLite3::Database.new(":memory:", extensions: ["/path/to/extension", SQLean::Crypto])
+  #
+  # Note that the constructor will implicitly call #enable_load_extension if the +extensions:+
+  # keyword argument is present.
+  #
+  # Finally, it's also possible to load an extension by passing the _name_ of a constant that
+  # implements the +_ExtensionSpecifier+ interface:
   #
-  # Thread safety:
+  #   db = SQLite3::Database.new(":memory:", extensions: ["SQLean::Crypto"])
+  #
+  # Handling the name of a constant like this is what enables injection of an extension in a Rails
+  # application's `config/database.yml` file, like this:
+  #
+  #   development:
+  #     adapter: sqlite3
+  #     database: storage/development.sqlite3
+  #     extensions:
+  #       - SQLean::Crypto
   #
-  # When `SQLite3.threadsafe?` returns true, it is safe to share instances of
-  # the database class among threads without adding specific locking. Other
-  # object instances may require applications to provide their own locks if
-  # they are to be shared among threads.  Please see the README.md for more
-  # information.
   class Database
     attr_reader :collations
 
@@ -76,23 +122,25 @@ def quote(string)
     # as hashes or not. By default, rows are returned as arrays.
     attr_accessor :results_as_hash
 
-    # call-seq: SQLite3::Database.new(file, options = {})
+    # call-seq:
+    #   SQLite3::Database.new(file, options = {})
     #
     # Create a new Database object that opens the given file.
     #
     # Supported permissions +options+:
     # - the default mode is <tt>READWRITE | CREATE</tt>
-    # - +:readonly+: boolean (default false), true to set the mode to +READONLY+
-    # - +:readwrite+: boolean (default false), true to set the mode to +READWRITE+
-    # - +:flags+: set the mode to a combination of SQLite3::Constants::Open flags.
+    # - +readonly:+ boolean (default false), true to set the mode to +READONLY+
+    # - +readwrite:+ boolean (default false), true to set the mode to +READWRITE+
+    # - +flags:+ set the mode to a combination of SQLite3::Constants::Open flags.
     #
     # Supported encoding +options+:
-    # - +:utf16+: boolean (default false), is the filename's encoding UTF-16 (only needed if the filename encoding is not UTF_16LE or BE)
+    # - +utf16:+ +boolish+ (default false), is the filename's encoding UTF-16 (only needed if the filename encoding is not UTF_16LE or BE)
     #
     # Other supported +options+:
-    # - +:strict+: boolean (default false), disallow the use of double-quoted string literals (see https://www.sqlite.org/quirks.html#double_quoted_string_literals_are_accepted)
-    # - +:results_as_hash+: boolean (default false), return rows as hashes instead of arrays
-    # - +:default_transaction_mode+: one of +:deferred+ (default), +:immediate+, or +:exclusive+. If a mode is not specified in a call to #transaction, this will be the default transaction mode.
+    # - +strict:+ +boolish+ (default false), disallow the use of double-quoted string literals (see https://www.sqlite.org/quirks.html#double_quoted_string_literals_are_accepted)
+    # - +results_as_hash:+ +boolish+ (default false), return rows as hashes instead of arrays
+    # - +default_transaction_mode:+ one of +:deferred+ (default), +:immediate+, or +:exclusive+. If a mode is not specified in a call to #transaction, this will be the default transaction mode.
+    # - +extensions:+ <tt>Array[String | _ExtensionSpecifier]</tt> SQLite extensions to load into the database. See Database@SQLite+Extensions for more information.
     #
     def initialize file, options = {}, zvfs = nil
       mode = Constants::Open::READWRITE | Constants::Open::CREATE
@@ -135,6 +183,8 @@ def initialize file, options = {}, zvfs = nil
       @readonly = mode & Constants::Open::READONLY != 0
       @default_transaction_mode = options[:default_transaction_mode] || :deferred
 
+      marshal_extensions(options[:extensions])
+
       ForkSafety.track(self)
 
       if block_given?
@@ -659,36 +709,59 @@ def busy_handler_timeout=(milliseconds)
     end
 
     # call-seq:
-    #   load_extension(extension_specifier) -> Database
+    #   load_extension(extension_specifier) -> self
     #
     # Loads an SQLite extension library from the named file. Extension loading must be enabled using
-    # Database#enable_load_extension prior to using this method.
+    # #enable_load_extension prior to using this method.
     #
-    # See also: https://www.sqlite.org/loadext.html
+    # See also: Database@SQLite+Extensions
     #
     # [Parameters]
-    # - extension_specifier (String | +_ExtensionSpecifier+) If a String, it is the filesystem path
+    # - +extension_specifier+: (String | +_ExtensionSpecifier+) If a String, it is the filesystem path
     #   to the sqlite extension file. If an object that responds to #sqlite_extension_path, the
     #   return value of that method is used as the filesystem path to the sqlite extension file.
     #
-    # +_ExtensionSpecifier+ describes the following interface:
+    # [Example] Using a filesystem path:
     #
-    #   interface _ExtensionSpecifier
-    #     def sqlite_extension_path: () → String
-    #   end
+    #   db.load_extension("/path/to/my_extension.so")
     #
-    # For example, the +sqlean+ ruby gem offers a set of classes that implement this interface,
-    # allowing a calling convention like:
+    # [Example] Using the {sqlean gem}[https://github.com/flavorjones/sqlean-ruby]:
     #
     #   db.load_extension(SQLean::VSV)
     #
     def load_extension(extension_specifier)
       if extension_specifier.respond_to?(:sqlite_extension_path)
         extension_specifier = extension_specifier.sqlite_extension_path
+      elsif !extension_specifier.is_a?(String)
+        raise TypeError, "extension_specifier #{extension_specifier.inspect} is not a String or a valid extension specifier object"
       end
       load_extension_internal(extension_specifier)
     end
 
+    def marshal_extensions(extensions) # :nodoc:
+      return if extensions.nil?
+      raise TypeError, "extensions must be an Array" unless extensions.is_a?(Array)
+      return if extensions.empty?
+
+      enable_load_extension(true)
+
+      extensions.each do |extension|
+        # marshall the extension into an object if it's the name of a constant that responds to
+        # `#sqlite_extension_path`
+        if extension.is_a?(String)
+          begin
+            extension_spec = Object.const_get(extension)
+            if extension_spec.respond_to?(:sqlite_extension_path)
+              extension = extension_spec
+            end
+          rescue NameError
+          end
+        end
+
+        load_extension(extension)
+      end
+    end
+
     # A helper class for dealing with custom functions (see #create_function,
     # #create_aggregate, and #create_aggregate_handler). It encapsulates the
     # opaque function object that represents the current invocation. It also
diff --git a/test/test_database.rb b/test/test_database.rb
index 58df7060..60597fee 100644
--- a/test/test_database.rb
+++ b/test/test_database.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@
 require "pathname"
 
 module SQLite3
+  class FakeExtensionSpecifier
+    def self.sqlite_extension_path
+      "/path/to/extension"
+    end
+  end
+
   class TestDatabase < SQLite3::TestCase
     attr_reader :db
 
@@ -15,6 +21,17 @@ def teardown
       @db.close unless @db.closed?
     end
 
+    def mock_database_load_extension_internal(db)
+      class << db
+        attr_reader :load_extension_internal_path
+
+        def load_extension_internal(path)
+          @load_extension_internal_path ||= []
+          @load_extension_internal_path << path
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
     def test_custom_function_encoding
       @db.execute("CREATE TABLE
                        sourceTable(
@@ -650,37 +667,98 @@ def test_strict_mode
       assert_match(/no such column: "?nope"?/, error.message)
     end
 
-    def test_load_extension_with_nonstring_argument
-      db = SQLite3::Database.new(":memory:")
+    def test_load_extension_error_with_nonexistent_path
+      skip("extensions are not enabled") unless db.respond_to?(:load_extension)
+      db.enable_load_extension(true)
+
+      assert_raises(SQLite3::Exception) { db.load_extension("/path/to/extension") }
+    end
+
+    def test_load_extension_error_with_invalid_argument
       skip("extensions are not enabled") unless db.respond_to?(:load_extension)
 
       assert_raises(TypeError) { db.load_extension(1) }
-      assert_raises(TypeError) { db.load_extension(Pathname.new("foo.so")) }
+      assert_raises(TypeError) { db.load_extension(Pathname.new("foo")) }
     end
 
     def test_load_extension_with_an_extension_descriptor
-      extension_descriptor = Class.new do
-        def sqlite_extension_path
-          "path/to/extension"
-        end
-      end.new
+      mock_database_load_extension_internal(db)
+
+      db.load_extension(FakeExtensionSpecifier)
 
+      assert_equal(["/path/to/extension"], db.load_extension_internal_path)
+    end
+
+    def test_marshal_extensions_with_extensions_calls_enable_load_extension
+      mock_database_load_extension_internal(db)
       class << db
-        attr_reader :load_extension_internal_path
+        attr_reader :enable_load_extension_called
 
-        def load_extension_internal(path)
-          @load_extension_internal_path = path
+        def enable_load_extension(...)
+          @enable_load_extension_called = true
         end
       end
 
-      db.load_extension(extension_descriptor)
+      db.marshal_extensions(nil)
+      refute(db.enable_load_extension_called)
+
+      db.marshal_extensions([])
+      refute(db.enable_load_extension_called)
 
-      assert_equal("path/to/extension", db.load_extension_internal_path)
+      db.marshal_extensions([FakeExtensionSpecifier])
+      assert(db.enable_load_extension_called)
     end
 
-    def test_load_extension_error
-      db = SQLite3::Database.new(":memory:")
-      assert_raises(SQLite3::Exception) { db.load_extension("path/to/foo.so") }
+    def test_marshal_extensions_object_is_an_extension_specifier
+      mock_database_load_extension_internal(db)
+
+      db.marshal_extensions([FakeExtensionSpecifier])
+      assert_equal(["/path/to/extension"], db.load_extension_internal_path)
+
+      db.load_extension_internal_path.clear # reset
+
+      db.marshal_extensions(["SQLite3::FakeExtensionSpecifier"])
+      assert_equal(["/path/to/extension"], db.load_extension_internal_path)
+
+      db.load_extension_internal_path.clear # reset
+
+      db.marshal_extensions(["CannotBeResolved"])
+      assert_equal(["CannotBeResolved"], db.load_extension_internal_path)
+    end
+
+    def test_marshal_extensions_object_not_an_extension_specifier
+      mock_database_load_extension_internal(db)
+
+      db.marshal_extensions(["CannotBeResolved"])
+      assert_equal(["CannotBeResolved"], db.load_extension_internal_path)
+
+      assert_raises(TypeError) { db.marshal_extensions([Class.new]) }
+
+      assert_raises(TypeError) { db.marshal_extensions(FakeExtensionSpecifier) }
+    end
+
+    def test_initialize_with_extensions_calls_marshal_extensions
+      # ephemeral class to capture arguments passed to marshal_extensions
+      klass = Class.new(SQLite3::Database) do
+        attr :marshal_extensions_called, :marshal_extensions_arg
+
+        def marshal_extensions(extensions)
+          @marshal_extensions_called = true
+          @marshal_extensions_arg = extensions
+        end
+      end
+
+      db = klass.new(":memory:")
+      assert(db.marshal_extensions_called)
+      assert_nil(db.marshal_extensions_arg)
+
+      db = klass.new(":memory:", extensions: [])
+      assert(db.marshal_extensions_called)
+      assert_empty(db.marshal_extensions_arg)
+
+      db = klass.new(":memory:", extensions: ["path/to/ext1", "path/to/ext2", "ClassName"])
+      assert(db.marshal_extensions_called)
+      assert_equal(["path/to/ext1", "path/to/ext2", "ClassName"], db.marshal_extensions_arg)
     end
 
     def test_raw_float_infinity