The now commonly-used English idiom “no new thing under the sun” (to suggest that everything that exists or has happened in the past can be found again in the present or future) was first coined in 1572 in the Bishops’ Bible (in the spelling no newe thyng vnder the sunne). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 274)
In Russian, the phrase нет ничего нового под солнцем (net nichego novogo pod solntsem) is also 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. 63f.)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used English idiom “two are better than one” (meaning that it is easier for two people who help each other to solve a problem than it is for one person to solve a problem alone) was first coined in 1560 in the Geneva Bible. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 274)
In Russian, the expression одна голова хорошо, а две лучше (odna golova khorosho, a dve luchshe — “one head is good but two heads are better”) is very popular today as well. It is also subject to all kinds of adaptations, for example: одна голова хорошо, а с туловищем лучше (odna golova khorosho, a s tulovishchem luchshe — “one head is fine, but with the body it is better”). The initial wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 11)
For other idioms in English 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 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 “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 “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 ).
The now commonly-used English idiom “led as a sheep (or: lamb) to the slaughter” (meaning doing something without knowing that something bad is going to happen and therefore act calmly) was first coined in 1560 in the Geneva Bible. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 282)
In Russian, this phrase (овца на заклание — ovtsa na zaklaniye) is also 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. 97)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used English idiom “a law unto themselves” (meaning someone who does whatever they desire, ignoring the rules and regulations) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale (in the spelling a lawe vnto them selve). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 282)
In Russian, this phrase (они сами себе закон — oni sami sebe zakon) is also widely used as an idiom. The wording of the quote originated in the Russian Synodal Bible (publ. 1876). (Source: Reznikov 2020, p. 73)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
