The now commonly-used English idiom “out of the mouth of babes and sucklings” (to day that Children are capable of saying wise, insightful, or mature things) was first coined in 1560 in the Geneva Bible (spelled as by the mouth of babes and sucklings). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 269)
In Russian, the idiom, also in its shorter form устами младенцев (ustami mladentsev — “out of mouth of babes”) is one of the most often-used idioms in the Russian language today (over 3 million Google hits), and hardly any of these usages have any connection to the Bible: it is the title of a TV show, of numerous collections of funny phrases uttered by kids, the name of the online store for children, the name of an educational game, etc. The wording of the initial quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 7)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
In Russian, the phrase как тать ночью (kak tat’ noch’yu) or “like a thief in the night” is widely used as an idiom in every-day life (“although few [modern speakers] would know its origin”) carrying the meaning of something that is done stealthily. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 83f.)
The Greek, Hebrew and Ge’ez that is translated as “two-edged sword” in English is translated in Alekano as “like a knife that is sharp at its mouth and its back” (source: Larson 1998, p. 170) and in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as “the sharpest knife.”
The now commonly-used English idiom “two-edged sword” (meaning something that offers both a good and bad consequence) was first coined in 1560 in the Geneva Bible. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 279)
Other languages that use this phrase idiomatically, include:
- Spanish: espada de doble filo
- French: épée à double tranchant
- German: zweischneidiges Schwert
- Italian: spada a doppio taglio
- Portuguese: espada de dois gumes
- Russian: обоюдоострый меч (oboyudoostryy mech) or двуострый меч (dvuostryy mech)
- Czech: dvojsečná zbraň
- Polish: miecz obosieczny
See also sword.
The Greek that is translated as “the Alpha and the Omega” in English, referring to the first and the last letter of the Greek alphabet is translated in German as “das A und O.” Even though the German alphabet does not end with the letter O, “das A und O” has become an idiom, that — like the Greek — refers to the end and the beginning or the whole.
Languages that versions of “the Alpha and the Omega” have become an idiom with the same meaning include:
The now commonly-used English idiom “render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s” (for when something needs to be given to government, usually money) was first coined in 1582 in the Douay Rheims Version (spelled as render therefore vnto Cesar, the things which are Cesars). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 271)
In Russian, this phrase (Итак отдавайте кесарю кесарево — Itak otdavayte kesaryu kesarevo) — quoted from the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876) — is also widely used as an idiom and often used in the form of lexical substitutions. All adaptations use the same syntax, but substitute the second part by another pair (often rhyming with the first); thus: кесарю – кесарево, а слесарю – слесарево (kesaryu – kesarevo, a slesaryu – slesarevo) — “render to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and to the plumber the things which are plumber’s” etc. (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 20)
In French, the phrase rendez à César ce qui est à César is likewise used as an idiom. (Source: Muller 1991, p. 27)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
In Russian, the phrase капля из ведра (kaplya iz vedra) or “a drop from a bucket” is widely used in many variations as an idiom in every-day life referring to situations when some actions are considered to be too little to make a change. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 86)
The now commonly-used English idiom “money is the root of all evil” (meaning the desire to obtain and amass money is the ultimate reason humans do evil things) was first coined in 1560 in the Geneva Bible (in the spelling (the desire of) money is the roote of all euill). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 283)
In Russian, this phrase (Ибо корень всех зол есть сребролюбие — Ibo koren’ vsekh zol yest’ srebrolyubiye) is also widely-used as an idiom. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 45)
It is also used in the following languages:
- Spanish: El dinero es la raíz de todos los males
- French: L’argent est la racine de tout mal / L’argent est la source de tous les maux
- Arabic: المال أصل كل الشر (almal ‘asl kuli alshari)
- Mandarin Chinese: 钱是万恶之源 (qián shì wàn’èzhī yuán)
- German: Geld ist die Wurzel allen Übels
The now commonly-used English idiom “no new thing under the sun” (to suggest that everything that exists or has happened in the past can be found again in the present or future) was first coined in 1572 in the Bishops’ Bible (in the spelling no newe thyng vnder the sunne). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 274)
In Russian, the phrase нет ничего нового под солнцем (net nichego novogo pod solntsem) is also widely used as an idiom in every-day life. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 63f.)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
