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 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)
The now commonly-used English term “scapegoat” (meaning a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others) was first coined in 1530 in the English Pentateuch translation of William Tyndale (in the spelling scapegoote, meaning “the goat that escaped”). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 278)
In the New English Bible, it is translated as “the Precipice,” while in other English versions it can also be translated as “Azazel,” referring to a demon (see Translation commentary on Leviticus 16:8 and thanks Elizabeth Lewis).
Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Scapegoat .
The now commonly-used English idiom “scales falling from eyes” (meaning to suddenly realizing the truth about something) was first coined in 1382 in the English translation by John Wycliffe (in the spelling scalis felden fro hise iyen). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 299)
Likewise, the now commonly-used German idiom wie Schuppen von den Augen fallen (literally “like scales falling from the eyes”), which today is primarily used meaning sudden and complete clarity, was made popular in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Redewendungen aus der Bibel )
Lastly, Finnish uses the idiom Suomut putoavat silmiltä also directly translating “the scales fall from the eyes.”