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Original poster

The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb

63 replies

GettingTetchy · 15/01/2024 15:58

Am I being unreasonable to say that ‘The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb’ is a recent invention that fits in with modern ideas.

YABU = this is the origin of ‘blood is thicker than water’

YANBU = ‘blood is thicker than water’ always meant family is more important than everyone else.

OP posts:
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Deathfollowsclose · 20/10/2024 09:55

The hipocrisy of family being supported at the cost of your sacrifice and the ones that chose to be at your side made the phrase blood thicker than water.
So with all truth the blood of the convenant is thicker than the water of the womb, because the ones who chose you will bleed for you

Original poster
GettingTetchy · 19/01/2024 09:44

TeatimeBiscuits · 19/01/2024 08:04

Yes I understand that part. Just musing on the other side of it. Blood is thicker than beer would make more sense 😁

or if the phrase came in from Scotland Whisky, but the contrast wouldn’t be as good and it just wouldn’t sound convincing. It doesn’t necessarily mean friends just all other obligations, I suppose.

OP posts:
TeatimeBiscuits · 19/01/2024 08:04

Yes I understand that part. Just musing on the other side of it. Blood is thicker than beer would make more sense 😁

Original poster
GettingTetchy · 18/01/2024 19:48

TeatimeBiscuits · 18/01/2024 19:08

in the original meaning how does water = friends?

As PP suggested it’s just a contrast. It means blood binds (like nothing else). There are lots of expressions where blood means family or genetic heritage such as ‘blood will out’ ‘my own flesh and blood’ ‘in the blood’. Using ‘water’ to represent a genetic bond is very unusual.

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TeatimeBiscuits · 18/01/2024 19:09

I thought it meant family is more important than friends but now thinking about it: I don’t know why friends = water. The water of the womb makes some sense

TeatimeBiscuits · 18/01/2024 19:08

in the original meaning how does water = friends?

newtlover · 18/01/2024 19:05

the usual version I believe is always understood to mean you should prioritise family (=blood) ties, or more often used to explain why people prioritise their family- eg
'my friend let me down again, she said she had to go and see her mum instead of meeting me'
'ah, well, blood is thicker than water I suppose'
'yeah I suppose so'

the version with the covenant I had never come across and immediately sounds religious- at least within the Jewish/christian tradition. If you read that RC link it demonstrates how truly bonkers they are. No offence.

LadyEloise1 · 18/01/2024 18:47

It's actually in a Garth Brooks song - I've just googled it @GettingTetchy

Original poster
GettingTetchy · 18/01/2024 16:11

The people have spoken - the fools!

OP posts:
Original poster
GettingTetchy · 17/01/2024 10:38

Holidayhell22 · 16/01/2024 21:43

It does make sense that religion would use it that way.
I’ve never heard it used that way before. Always in a way that family will stick together, usually when someone is going through a divorce to mean no matter how close you are to your in laws, they will favour their blood relative.

I suppose people who have to write a sermon every week don’t always worry very much about facts and accuracy.
Yes, explaining loyalty to family is how I’ve always understood it.

OP posts:
Holidayhell22 · 16/01/2024 21:43

It does make sense that religion would use it that way.
I’ve never heard it used that way before. Always in a way that family will stick together, usually when someone is going through a divorce to mean no matter how close you are to your in laws, they will favour their blood relative.

Original poster
GettingTetchy · 16/01/2024 20:33

LadyEloise1 · 16/01/2024 19:34

My take on it is -
Blood is thicker than water but love is thicker than blood.

Could you rewrite that using ‘the heart’ to mean love. I think it could catch on.

OP posts:
LadyEloise1 · 16/01/2024 19:34

My take on it is -
Blood is thicker than water but love is thicker than blood.

Original poster
GettingTetchy · 16/01/2024 14:57

AutumnFroglets · 16/01/2024 12:12

Interesting thread.

I have always taken the "blood" to mean family. Not necessarily real family but also very close friends or those who walk the same path as you, whether it's military or religious. Of course there is still a hierarchy within this blood family because (usually) a mother is higher up than a brother or cousin or grandparent. I thought water was just to give a feeling of difference through viscosity...yeah, didn't really think that part through 😂

EDIT - just to clarify, I hadn't heard of the full saying that's in the title.

Edited

Yes. I think water is just there as a contrast. It doesn’t really represent anything.
You are probably right that people occasionally say ‘blood is thicker than water’ to mean ‘that’s where my loyalty lies’ even if not referring to family. I have always heard it in a positive way to explain motivation rather than to goad someone else into their supposed duty.

OP posts:
AutumnFroglets · 16/01/2024 12:12

Interesting thread.

I have always taken the "blood" to mean family. Not necessarily real family but also very close friends or those who walk the same path as you, whether it's military or religious. Of course there is still a hierarchy within this blood family because (usually) a mother is higher up than a brother or cousin or grandparent. I thought water was just to give a feeling of difference through viscosity...yeah, didn't really think that part through 😂

EDIT - just to clarify, I hadn't heard of the full saying that's in the title.

Purplesilkpyjamas · 16/01/2024 11:51

The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.

Genuineweddingone · 16/01/2024 11:47

It is an entire load of tripe to make those of us who have been abused by family members to believe blood is thicker than water when it clearly is not. You only have to look at the 'we took you to stately homes' threads to see that.

DappledThings · 16/01/2024 10:29

Milange · 16/01/2024 08:18

I thought it was a religious thing- the blood of the covenant ie, ones faith in the Church (blood comes from taking communion), is thicker than the water of the womb (symbolic of family in general, not just your mother)- basically your commitment to God is above your commitment to your worldly family.

Shown through Jesus allowing himself to be crucified for God, even though it caused pain to his mother and disciples.

That’s the use I’ve always know.

Yes, me too.

DoIgotothefuneral · 16/01/2024 10:19

quisensoucie · 16/01/2024 07:57

Omg, I wondered how long it would be until the mysogenistic trope was wheeled out.
Congratulations!

Show quote history

Thanks. 👌

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 16/01/2024 10:05

Milange · 16/01/2024 08:45

https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/blood-is-thicker-than-water/

https://tidings.org/articles/blood-is-thicker-than-water/

Im not a Catholic or Christadelphian- just thought people might be interested in this interpretation- it’s the one I’ve understood the phrase to mean.

Yes. This is what I was taught. Actually that it was about monks taking a vow, so that their monk brothers become their family and their natural family is left behind.

LifeofBrienne · 16/01/2024 09:58

Looking at Wikipedia, it seems pretty clear that 'Blood is thicker than water' about the strength of family ties, is the original saying, dating back many hundreds of years, and the other version was probably invented in the 1990s
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_is_thicker_than_water
I can see the new version would appeal to people whose birth family has been a bit shit and who have found good friends, but it seems intended to be a religious saying. Rather sinister to me as it's the sort of line that could be used to encourage people to drop family and friends and join a cult or extreme religious sect.

Blood is thicker than water - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_is_thicker_than_water

Milange · 16/01/2024 08:46

LenaLamont · 16/01/2024 08:39

I agree with @Milange , it’s religious. That your brothers and sisters in Christ (or in Judaism) are your true family above all else, including your birth family.

There is a covenant between God and believer, and upholding that, being true to it, is more important than family concerns.

You have phrased it better (and I love your username!).

quisensoucie · 16/01/2024 08:42

@GettingTetchy Your username is perfect - I am seething that you have it!