Family

"Blood is thicker than water."
This is such a famous saying, but I've seen it been interpreted a million different ways. Plain and simple, blood is thicker than water--which it is. But it's used as a metaphor to imply how you should treat family versus friends. Mainly two stand out to me--and in a way both are right and both meanings are important to recognize.
The one most commonly held against me is blood-related. Most people also seem to be more familiar with this one as well. Basically, it just means that the people who share genes and consequently the "same blood" should come before those that don't. Basically, family comes before all else. This tends to be especially common among the older generation and more traditional people. Mainly just those who like to keep their blood family by their side. There really is nothing wrong with this and can be a good motto to follow, especially if you have a good relationship with your family members. They've been there since birth and were your first lifelong friends, throwing them away for some hagglers you picked up on the street is honestly just an awful thing to do. Family really is important.
However, while researching this quote, I was made known to the fact that the original quote was "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb." Just those little additions flip the quote on its head. Now, the effort you put into friendships--hardships, battles, low pits--are bound to shed blood. And that blood you shed through tough times is thicker than the water you were birthed in. Those who are there through your low points must be held close. This version of the quote is suggesting that these people are more important than those who grew up with.
Now, let me add my two cents. To me, the quote means to hold family close. And while Webster defines family by genetics, I personally would like to object. A family is a set of people who you trust, love, and who you grew up with. And grow up doesn't necessarily mean from birth to eighteenth birthday, it could also mean to experience a sort of drastic beneficial change. This could refer to anything from becoming a better writer to becoming more emotionally stable. Your family are the people who not only are there for you, but ultimately help you grow in life. Related by genetics or not, these connections are what should be placed over everything else.
In my eyes, both versions are stretching the importance of family and honestly, I couldn't agree more.