many are called but few are chosen

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.

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