The Quiverfull movement is a theological position held by some conservative Christian groups which promotes procreation, abstaining from all forms of birth control, and sees children as blessings from God. It gets its name from Psalm 127:3-5 which states: “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” Those in the Quiverfull movement interpret this and other Bible verses to mean that couples should have as many children as God gives them. They view this as obedience to God’s command in Genesis 1:28 to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”
Key beliefs in the Quiverfull movement include:
- God opens and closes the womb, so couples should accept as many children as God grants them.
- All forms of birth control are considered wrong.
- Children are a blessing from God and couples should aim to have as many as they can.
- Couples should “trust God” with their family planning.
- Women are focused primarily on having children and being homemakers.
- Couples in the movement often home school their children.
- They emphasize biblical patriarchy and male headship.
The Patriarchy movement shares some similarities with the Quiverfull movement but is more focused on promoting male leadership in the home and church. Key beliefs include:
- The husband is the head of the household and the wife should submit to his leadership (based on Ephesians 5:22-24).
- Only men should be in positions of leadership in the church (based on 1 Timothy 2:12-13).
- Men have authority over women in the family structure.
- Patriarchy advocates often promote “family integrated churches” with no age-divided programs.
- Patriarchal gender roles where men lead and provide and women care for the home.
While the Quiverfull and Patriarchy movements share some views about gender roles, the Patriarchy movement does not necessarily promote having as many children as possible. The focus is more on masculine leadership within the bounds of traditional gender roles.
Those involved in these movements believe they are adhering to Biblical teaching by promoting traditional gender roles, eschewing birth control, and accepting as many children as God grants. They emphasize passages such as:
Genesis 1:28 – And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Psalm 127:3-5 – Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
1 Timothy 2:12-13 – I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
Ephesians 5:22-24 – Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
However, there are also Christians who believe the Bible promotes a more egalitarian view of gender roles based on passages like:
Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 5:21 – Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Genesis 1:27 – So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
There are differing views within Christianity regarding how prescriptive biblical passages on gender roles should be applied today. Some believe the Bible promotes timeless principles about male headship in the home and church. Others think the passages reflect cultural practices of biblical times and that the overall arc of Scripture moves toward greater equality. There are also differences of opinion on birth control – if it should be promoted or avoided.
Those advocating Quiverfull and Patriarchy present what they sincerely believe to be a biblical model for marriage, family and the church. They emphasize passages they understand as prescribing traditional gender roles and eschewing birth control. However, there are also Christians who interpret Scripture differently on these issues and come to more egalitarian conclusions. There is room for debate within Christianity on how literally to apply certain biblical passages to male authority and family planning.
The Quiverfull movement began among conservative Reformed and fundamentalist denominations in the 1980s and 1990s. Those involved emphasize agriculture and simple living, homeschooling their many children. Most Quiverfull families are a part of the Christian homeschooling movement. Leaders of the Quiverfull movement include authors Nancy Campbell, Mary Pride, and Charles D. Provan.
Some well-known families associated with the Quiverfull movement are the Duggars of the television show 19 Kids and Counting and the Bates family of the television show Bringing Up Bates. These shows give a glimpse into the Quiverfull lifestyle with an emphasis on faith, conservative values, male headship, and of course very large families.
Critics argue the Quiverfull lifestyle can be abusive and oppressive toward women. Expecting mothers to have baby after baby and be primarily homemakers with no outside career can limit their choices and independence. In extremely large families, older daughters often bear the brunt of childcare and homeschooling duties, limiting their own educational opportunities. Younger children in big families may also suffer from lack of parental attention spread thinly across many siblings.
The Patriarchy movement developed in the late 1990s and 2000s among families involved in the Christian homeschooling movement. Key leaders include R.C. Sproul Jr., Doug Phillips, Doug Wilson, and Voddie Baucham. Patriarchy advocates formed groups like Vision Forum to promote their views on biblical gender roles.
Critics argue patriarchy keeps women under the control of their fathers or husbands, limiting their ability to make their own choices and pursue careers outside the home if they wish. Some also feel patriarchy enables emotional and spiritual abuse by requiring wives to submit to husbands even if they ask them to do questionable things.
It’s important to understand that not all Christians who appreciate traditional gender roles of male leadership and female homemaking adhere strictly to the Quiverfull and Patriarchy movements. These movements represent one stream of conservative Christianity that applies a very strict interpretation of biblical texts on gender and family. But Christians across the theological spectrum come to different conclusions about how literally to interpret and apply certain Bible passages that touch on these issues.
The Quiverfull and Patriarchy movements represent sincere efforts by some Christians to build their families according to biblical values as they interpret them. But there are also many Christians who believe a more nuanced, less rigid application of biblical gender principles allows for greater equality between women and men while still honoring biblical authority. There is room for debate, discussion and disagreement among believers on these complex issues.
In summary, the Quiverfull movement emphasizes large families, homeschooling, and eschewing birth control. The Patriarchy movement focuses more on male leadership in home and church. Both appeal to Bible verses that seem to promote traditional gender hierarchy. However, many Christians understand these verses in their cultural context and believe Scripture moves toward redeeming equality between genders. There is diversity within Christianity regarding how literally to apply biblical instructions about male authority and family planning in modern contexts. The Quiverfull and Patriarchy represent one stream of very conservative thought on these issues.