The German term Pfaffe which today is a negative term for “priest” or “pastor” was first used in that derogative meaning by Martin Luther’s 1534 translation of the Hebrew komer (typically translated as “idolatrous priest” in English). “Pfaffe,” which Luther used as “Götzenpfaffe” (or “priest of idols”), originally just meaning “priest,” was used to implicitly criticize to Catholic priests. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 98)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used German expression Herzenslust, which today is especially used in the phrasing “nach Herzenslust,” meaning to do something just like one wants (literally “follow the desires of the heart”), was first coined in 1534 in the German Bible translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 77)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used German idiom ein Ende mit Schrecken nehmen, today often used in the phrasing “lieber ein Ende mit Schrecken nehmen als ein Schrecken ohne Ende” (meaning that it’s preferable to end an unsatisfying state of affairs painfully to having a painful experience without ever experiencing an end to that) was first coined in 1534 in the German Bible translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 60)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
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)
