Crystal, David. Begat: The King James Bible and the English Language. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2010.
The now commonly-used English idiom “bottomless pit” (for something that holds a very large amount of something) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale (spelled as bottomlesse pytt) for the Greek abussos. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 289)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used English idiom “O ye of little faith” (as an often humorous rebuke of someone who has expressed doubt) was first coined in 1382 in the English translation by John Wycliffe (in the spelling you of litel feith). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 290)
In German, the term Kleingläubiger (literally “one of little faith”), which today is primarily used to refer to someone with a lot of doubt, was made popular in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Zetzsche)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here, for idioms or terms in German, see here.
The now commonly-used English idiom “pearls before swine” (meaning something valuable presented to someone who doesn’t recognize its worth) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale (in the spelling (cast ye youre) pearles before swyne) (source: Crystal 2010, p. 286). Likewise The now commonly-used German idiom Perlen vor die Säue werfen was made popular in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther (source: Günther 2017, p. 90).
In Russian, this phrase (Не мечите бисер перед свиньями — Ne mechite biser pered svin’yami) is also widely used as an idiom. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 12)
The now commonly-used German idiom Mördergrube (literally “murderers’ pit”), which today is primarily used in the expression “aus seinem Herzen keine Mördergrube machen” or “to speak freely” (literally: “don’t turn your heart into a murderers pit”), was made popular in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. Note that from the 1956 Luther Bible edition on forward, this was replaced with the more correct Räuberhöhle. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 90)
The common English idiom “den of thieves” (meaning a group of people engaged in or suspected of illegal, immoral, or underhanded activities or a place in which such activities take place) was first coined in 1382 in the English translation by John Wycliffe (in the spelling denne of theues). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 290)
In Chechen it is translated idiomatically as “a nest of robbers” (Source: David Clark in The Bible Translator 2015, p. 117ff. )
The Greek that is translated as “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with Der Heilige Geist macht mutig, aber als bloße Menschen sind wir feige or “The Holy Spirit makes us courageous, but as mere humans we are cowards.”
The now commonly-used English idiom “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (meaning a person pretending to be harmless) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 281)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used English idiom “woe is me” (for an — often ironic — exclamation of lamentation for one’s misfortune) was first coined in 1610 in the Douay Rheims Version. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 269)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
See also Woe to us!
The now commonly-used English idiom “many are called, but few are chosen” (for when a lot of people attempt to achieve or attain something, but only a few will actually be successful) was first coined in 1582 in the Douay Rheims Version. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 269)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The translation by Sarah Ruden (2021) translates: “There are a lot of invited guests, but not a lot of the chosen best.”
She comments on this (p. 134): “The traditional English ‘Many are called, but few are chosen’ ignores jingly wordplay. The Jews deliberately skip a wedding banquet — the epitome of enjoyment, here standing for the unending heavenly feast to follow the apocalypse — and insult and infuriate the host, God. The slaves stand for the prophets ignored or martyred throughout Jewish history. One of the substitute (that is, Gentile) guests does not know how to behave either, likely meaning that he offends against Jewish custom and ethics, important to the author of Matthew.”
The now commonly-used English idiom “eye for an eye” (meaning revenge or retribution) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 285)
Likewise in Mandarin Chinese, the phrasing that was coined to translate “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” — yǐyǎn huányǎn, yǐyá huányá (以眼还眼，以牙还牙 / 以眼還眼，以牙還牙) — has also become a Chinese proverb (see here ).
Other languages that have idioms based on the Hebrew that is translated “an eye for an eye” in English include:
In Alekano it is translated as “if someone gouges out your eye, gouge out his eye,” since in that language body parts need to have an obligatory possessive designator attached. (Source: Larson 1998, p. 42)