The now commonly-used English idiom “put the words in one’s mouth” (meaning a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others) was first coined in 1395 in the English translation by John Wycliffe (in the spelling puttide the wordis in hir mouth). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 279)
In Russian, this phrase (вложил в уста ее (vlozhil v usta yeye) is also widely used in many variations as an idiom in every-day life. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 92)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
In Russian, the phrase Пилат … умыл руки (Pilat … umyl ruki) or “Pilate . . . washed his hands” is widely-used as an idiom in a number of variations in every-day life. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 64)
In French, the phrase “s’en laver les mains” or “wash hands” is likewise used as an idiom. (Source: Muller 1991, p. 78)
The now commonly-used English idiom “out of the mouth of babes and sucklings” (to day that Children are capable of saying wise, insightful, or mature things) was first coined in 1560 in the Geneva Bible (spelled as by the mouth of babes and sucklings). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 269)
In Russian, the idiom, also in its shorter form устами младенцев (ustami mladentsev — “out of mouth of babes”) is one of the most often-used idioms in the Russian language today (over 3 million Google hits), and hardly any of these usages have any connection to the Bible: it is the title of a TV show, of numerous collections of funny phrases uttered by kids, the name of the online store for children, the name of an educational game, etc. The wording of the initial quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 7)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used English idiom “money is the root of all evil” (meaning the desire to obtain and amass money is the ultimate reason humans do evil things) was first coined in 1560 in the Geneva Bible (in the spelling (the desire of) money is the roote of all euill). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 283)
In Russian, this phrase (Ибо корень всех зол есть сребролюбие — Ibo koren’ vsekh zol yest’ srebrolyubiye) is also widely-used as an idiom. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 45)
It is also used in the following languages:
- Spanish: El dinero es la raíz de todos los males
- French: L’argent est la racine de tout mal / L’argent est la source de tous les maux
- Arabic: المال أصل كل الشر (almal ‘asl kuli alshari)
- Mandarin Chinese: 钱是万恶之源 (qián shì wàn’èzhī yuán)
- German: Geld ist die Wurzel allen Übels
In Russian, the phrase суббота для человека, а не человек для субботы (subbota dlya cheloveka, a ne chelovek dlya subboty) or “the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath” is widely used in many variations as an idiom in every-day life. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 63f.)
The now commonly-used English idiom “render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s” (for when something needs to be given to government, usually money) was first coined in 1582 in the Douay Rheims Version (spelled as render therefore vnto Cesar, the things which are Cesars). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 271)
In Russian, this phrase (Итак отдавайте кесарю кесарево — Itak otdavayte kesaryu kesarevo) — quoted from the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876) — is also widely used as an idiom and often used in the form of lexical substitutions. All adaptations use the same syntax, but substitute the second part by another pair (often rhyming with the first); thus: кесарю – кесарево, а слесарю – слесарево (kesaryu – kesarevo, a slesaryu – slesarevo) — “render to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and to the plumber the things which are plumber’s” etc. (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 20)
In French, the phrase rendez à César ce qui est à César is likewise used as an idiom. (Source: Muller 1991, p. 27)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used English idiom “the blind lead the blind” (as in when an inexperienced person is guiding someone a person who is equally inexperienced) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale (in the spelling the blynde leede the blynde). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 285)
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)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
In Russian, the phrase Никто не может служить двум господам (Nikto ne mozhet sluzhit’ dvum gospodam) or “No one can serve two masters” is widely used in many variations as an idiom in every-day life. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 63f.)
