heap burning coals on their heads

The now commonly-used German idiom feurige Kohlen aufs Haupt sammeln used to express to make someone feel ashamed (literally meaning heap burning coals on someone’s head) was first coined in 1534 in the German Bible translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 68)

For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.

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