Blood is Thicker than Water

Blood is Thicker than Water

Been studying the saying “blood is thicker than water” and found that most commentators take the phase back to the 13th century German proverb. But Jewish historians say that it dates back to OT times. Here’s a clip of the original meaning.

"Blood is thicker than water."

This phrase has completely lost its original, covenant-related, meaning. Today, it is interpreted as meaning that blood-related family members are to be considered as more important than anyone else. However, the original meaning is, "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb," or, "My relationship with those to whom I am joined in covenant is to be considered of more value than the relationship with a brother with whom I may have shared the womb."

"...there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." (Prov18:24)

The term friend has also lost its original meaning. More than an acquaintance, or one that I have some amount of affection for, it is actually a term to be used to refer to one with whom I am joined, in covenant.

It’s adds a new dimension to what Jesus commanded of us all and explains why He said what He did.

Jesus said we had to hate our family (water of the womb) connections in comparison to Him (Luke 14:26). That’s because by entering into New Covenant (covenant is another word for testament) with Him this is exactly what we’re acknowledging. We’re dying to our old selves and being born again into His family.

We still love our families of course, but we love others now BECAUSE of Christ. This means that He has supremacy over all relationships. Therefore when one is set up against the other we choose the one that has supremacy in our hearts.

The author alleges that the Bible in particular, OT proverbs, predate the expression. But that the expression was merely a condensed saying of a biblical principle.

He cites the relationship between David and Jonathan as an example and how Jonathan honored the covenant between them over that of his familial relationship with his father Saul.

He also cites how in the covenant of marriage the husband is said to leave his father and mother and the two (husband and wife) become one.

In both cases the covenant takes precedence over familial ties because the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.

Jesus wasn’t proposing a radical new idea in our loyalty to Him. He was simply stating what was already known and accepted about covenant relationships. That’s one reason why the NT drives home the idea of our relationship with Christ being a marriage covenant, to which we are in the betrothal period now.