# Is “Blood is thicker than water” in the Bible?

> No. “Blood is thicker than water” is not in the Bible.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/blood-is-thicker-than-water
By Andrew Kittridge · November 9, 2026

Scripture honors family, yet it also says “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24), and Jesus called whoever does the will of God his family (Mark 3:35).

Not in the Bible. Origin: An old proverb, known in German in the Middle Ages and in English by the 1600s.

## What the Bible says instead

> A person with many companions may be brought to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
>
> — [Proverbs 18:24](https://www.lumin.faith/read/proverbs/18#24) (Lumin Translation)

> For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
>
> — [Mark 3:35](https://www.lumin.faith/read/mark/3#35) (Lumin Translation)

## Common questions

### Is “Blood is thicker than water” in the Bible?

No. “Blood is thicker than water” is not in the Bible. Scripture honors family, yet it also says “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24), and Jesus called whoever does the will of God his family (Mark 3:35).

### Where does “Blood is thicker than water” come from?

An old proverb, known in German in the Middle Ages and in English by the 1600s.

### What does the Bible say instead?

Read Proverbs 18:24, Mark 3:35. Scripture honors family, yet it also says “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24), and Jesus called whoever does the will of God his family (Mark 3:35).

## More

- [Is “The apple of my eye” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-apple-of-my-eye.md)
- [Is “By the skin of my teeth” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/by-the-skin-of-my-teeth.md)
- [Is “The eye is the lamp of the body” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-eye-is-the-lamp-of-the-body.md)
- [Is “Fire and brimstone” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/fire-and-brimstone.md)
- [Is “Honor your father and your mother” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/honor-your-father-and-your-mother.md)
- [Is “Judge not, lest you be judged” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/judge-not-lest-you-be-judged.md)
- [Is “Like a lamb to the slaughter” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/like-a-lamb-to-the-slaughter.md)
- [Is “A man after God’s own heart” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/a-man-after-gods-own-heart.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)