Among other things, Titus 2:3-5 in the King James Version tells us that older women in the church are to teach the younger women to be keepers at home. Some versions of the Bible translate this as “homemakers”(NKJV), “working at home” (ESV), and “busy at home” (NIV), but in the original Greek, a keeper at home is more than a maid, she’s a guard of the home.
Being a keeper at home does NOT mean:
- That can’t work outside the home.
- You are just a housekeeper.
- That you are unimportant.
- You are wasting your potential.
- That you have to homeschool your children.
What is a Keeper at Home?
One way to properly interpret scripture is to do some cross-referencing and compare scripture with scripture.
The first mention of the word “keep” in the Bible is Genesis 2:15, when Adam was placed in the garden of Eden to “dress and keep it”. That means he was to work the land, to labor in it, and to guard and protect it, to keep watch over it.
Genesis 4:2 is the first mention of the word “keeper”, and that same word in Hebrew is translated as a shepherd 63 times in the KJV. It means to tend a flock.
The last mention of “keeper” is in Acts 16:36, and it means a jailor or a guard.
God is a Keeper
Psalm 121 reveals that God is our keeper because He is our help, defense, protector, guard, and watchman.
(If you would like to learn how to do a word study in the Bible, check out this post I wrote on the subject: 10 Simple Steps to do a Bible Word Study)
Adam was the keeper of paradise- his domain was the garden; Abel was a keeper of sheep- his domain was the field; the Philippian jailer was a keeper of the prisoners-his domain was the jail; God is the keeper of man- his domain is the world; women are keepers of our family- our domain is the home.
A Keeper at Home is Prepared
Our home is our number one field of ministry. It should be a sanctuary for our family, a safe haven, where we can find refuge from the world. The role of keeper at home is one of extreme importance in making this a reality.
- Prioritize – Where do you spend the most time, energy, and money? Jesus said that where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21)
What the Lord wants is for women to treasure Him, their home, and the people in it. The home is where our heart should be.
If your heart’s NOT toward your home, why not, what is the core issue there? Ask God for a new perspective on your role as keeper at home. Line your priorities up with God’s.
- Plan – Proper planning prevents poor performance! That’s a phrase that sticks with me because we are a ministry family with a full schedule, and if I don’t plan, things fall apart. This creates unnecessary stress on all of us. As a keeper at home, I have to guard our family against burnout.
The most important thing to plan as a keeper at home is your personal time with Jesus because if you neglect that, everyone will suffer. Jesus gives us the love, joy, peace, and patience that we need to minister to our family.
Proverbs 31:27 KJV ~ She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
A Keeper at Home is Protective and Powerful
A soccer goalie is also called a keeper because they guard the goal. The keeper has to be in the goal, watching the ball, and anticipating his opponent’s moves. Just like that keeper, women have to be:
- In the home. If we’re not, we’ll be oblivious to the needs of the family. 1Timothy 5:14
- Sober, Spirit-filled, and sensitive to the Lord’s leading. 1Peter 5:8
- Watchful and prayerful. Matthew 26:41
Jael in Judges 4:15-24 gives us a perfect example of a keeper at home. She was in her tent, recognized the enemy, and acted quickly to get rid of him. Jael was prepared, protective, and she was powerful.
God used this woman to deliver his people and bring them rest for twice as long as they had endured oppression from their cruel enemy. (Judges 5:31)
A Keeper at Home is a Watchman
As a protective keeper at home, God can use YOU to deliver your family from the hands of the enemy, to bring the word of God like a hammer down on Satan’s head, and to release your family from years of slavery to sin. Share on XThe world, flesh, and devil are all attacking the family unit, dividing marriages, and drawing children away into apathy and apostasy. A keeper at home is a modern-day watchman, and some ways we can be watchful are:
- Filter the entertainment we allow into the home.
- Routinely check electronics.
- Monitor social media accounts.
- Put boundaries and accountability in place for all boy/girl relationships.
- Instill biblical instruction in the home.
A Keeper at Home is Proactive in Prayer
To be a keeper at home is to guard your home from sin, spiritual warfare, and splitting apart, so we have to be proactive in prayer and fight for our family.
We can’t wait until a crisis hits, we have to be prudent and foresee the areas that should be covered in prayer.
Proverbs 19:14 KJV ~ House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
A keeper at home does have household duties to take care of, but she is more than a maid. A biblical keeper at home prepares, protects, and prays over the home she manages.
Have you been taking this role seriously?
More articles on biblical womanhood and Titus 2:
The Call to Invest: Biblical Discipleship For Women
7 Tried and Tested Truths That Will Transform Your Marriage
Teaching the Young Women to “Be Good”
A Help Meet under Headship: Obedient to their Husband
Pray With Confidence
Prayer is vital for a keeper at home. If you would like to grow in your prayer life, then check out Pray with Confidence. It’s a website for helping women overcome prayer obstacles, and I am one of the regular contributors. Here are some links I think will be a blessing to you:
When Your Prayer for Pain Relief Goes Unanswered
3 Short Prayers for Spiritual Stability
You also want to check out the prayer resources, Bible verses, and tough questions tabs. There are many great options to boost your spiritual growth!
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Excellent! We are gatekeepers of the home. This takes time and space. Breathing room. Thank you for a well-written article! Appreciated you saying what a keeper is and is not! Being the mom of 7 boys, 5 girls, I have attended many a soccer game. Well done paralleling a goal keeper to a mom keeper! The responsibility lies with us and then onto our husband!
Praise the Lord! I’m glad it was a blessing to ya!
Running the home well begins with planning, to make sure everything runs smoothly. Routines are perfect for this. I love how you mentioned that we are protectors of the gates of our home, to make sure that eye garbage doesn’t come through any doors or screens.
Yes, it’s so important! Thank you for reading and commenting! 🙂