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 English idiom “in the twinkling of an eye” (meaning immediately) was first coined in 1382 in the English translation by John Wycliffe (in the spelling in the twynklyng of an iye). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 290)
In Russian, this phrase (в мгновение ока — v mgnoveniye oka) is also widely-used as an idiom. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 47f.)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used English idiom “eat, drink, and be merry” (meaning enjoy yourselves and also not to give any thought to the future, because life is short) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 277)
In Russian, this phrase (ешь, пей и веселись / yesh’, pey i veselis’) is also widely-used as an idiom. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 41)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used English idiom “they know not what they do” (meaning not to be be angry at others for doing something bad if they are ignorant) was first coined in 1560 in the Geneva Bible. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 277)
In Russian, this phrase (ибо не знают, что делают — ibo ne znayut, chto delayut) is also widely used as an idiom. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 70)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used German idiom sein Scherflein beitragen (literally “to contribute ones part of a mite”), which today is used with the meaning “to contribute ones share,” originates in the 1522 German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. A Scherflein was the smallest possible coin value which n medieval Germany was created by physically cutting the smallest coin into pieces. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 107)
Likewise in Russian, the phrase внести свою лепту (vnesti svoyu leptu) or “contribute one’s mite” is widely used as an idiom, despite the archaic word for “mite. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 106ff.)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
In Russian, the phrase Что посеет человек, то и пожнет (Chto poseyet chelovek, to i pozhnet) or “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” is 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. 93)
The now commonly-used English idiom “sheep’s clothing” (meaning a person pretending to be harmless) was made popular in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 280)
In Russian, this phrase (Если слепой ведет слепого — Yesli slepoy vedet slepogo) 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)
In Latvian, the phrase vilks avju drēbēs or “wolf in sheep’s clothing” 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 ).
In Russian, the phrase тридцать сребренников (tridtsat’ srebrennikov) or “thirty pierces of silver” is widely used as an idiom for abandoning a principle is exchange for cash in every-day life. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 99)
