Günther, Hartmut. Mit Feuereifer und Herzenslust – Wie Luther unsere Sprache prägte. Berlin: Duden, 2017.
The now commonly-used German idiom mit Engelszungen reden for “sliver-tongued” or “speaking with persuasion and/charm” was first coined in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 61)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used German idiom Hochmut kommt vor dem Fall, which means that too much prideful behavior often ends in ruin (literally “arrogance goes before the fall”), was made popular in 1534 in the German Bible translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 80)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used German expression Fallstrick for “snare,” but today only used in German in the sense to cause someone to stumble (“jemandem einen Fallstick legen”), was first coined in 1534 in the German Bible translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 65)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used German idiom ein Licht aufgehen, which means that someone has suddenly understood something (literally “a light is dawning”), was made popular in 1534 in the German Bible translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 83)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used English idiom “man cannot live by bread alone” (meaning people need more than material things to truly live) was first coined in 1582 in the Douay Rheims Version (in the spelling Man shall not liue by bread alone). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 275)
In Russian, this phrase (He одним хлебом живет человек — Ne odnim khlebom zhivet chelovek) is also widely used as an idiom. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 14)
In German the idiom Der Mensch lebt nicht vom Brot allein, is today often used as a way to express that only bread is not enough as food (Der Mensch lebt nicht vom Brot allein, es kann auch Wurst und Käse sein — “one does not live by bread alone, meat and cheese are also welcome”). It was coined in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 90)
The now commonly-used German expression Feuereifer, which today is used for a strong engagement for something, especially a cause of some kind, was first coined in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. Since the meaning of that expression has now changed into something positive, the current edition of Luther’s translation (publ. 2017) uses wütendes Feuer — “raging fire.” Source: Günther 2017, p. 67)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used German idiom ein Licht unter den Scheffel stellen, which means to be excessively humble (literally “put a light under the bushel”), was made popular in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 85)
Since the German term Scheffel (“bushel”) is outdated and not widely known anymore, it was replaced in a 1975 revision of the Luther New Testament with Eimer (“bucket”). In the public reception this was seen as such an egregious error of judgment that that whole version was referred to mockingly as the Eimertestament (“bucket testament”) and withdrawn two years after its release. This choice of wording was not the only reason why that particular revision did not succeed. The revision was done mostly by linguists rather than theologians and aimed to have a highly communicative and modern style, which resulted in a loss of the specific style of the Luther Bible, something that the German church and public were not willing to accept. A more conservative revision followed in 1984 and the last revision was published in 2017. The 2017 edition actually restored some of Luther’s phrasing and terminology that had been replaced by earlier versions as long as they still reflected the meaning of the original Greek or Hebrew text.
In Latvian, the phrase turēt sveci zem pūra or “keep a candle under the bushel” has become part of the standard lexicon, going back to the 1682 New Testament translation by Ernst Glück (source: Pēteris Vanags in Glück’s landmark translation of the Bible into Latvian ).
The now commonly-used English idiom “the signs of the times” (meaning something that signifies the situation evident in the current times, often with a negative connotation) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale (in the spelling ye signes of the tymes). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 285)
Likewise, the German idiom Zeichen der Zeit (literally “signs of the times”) has also become an idiom with a similar meaning. This was coined in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 90)
In French, the phrase signe des temps is likewise used as an idiom. (Source: Muller 1991, p. 61)
See also who know the laws.