The Greek that is translated “not on talk but on power” or similar in English is translated with a alliteration in the common language version of the Spanish Biblia Dios Habla Hoy (“no es cuestión de palabras, sino de poder“) and the French Parole de Vie (“pas une affaire de paroles mais de puissance“). An early version of the German Gute Nachricht also had an alliteration with “Wort” and “Wirkung” (source: Barclay Newman in The Bible Translator 1978, p. 225ff. )
Language-specific Insights
magi, wise men
The Greek magoi originally referred to Persian Zoroastrian “priests who were experts in astrology and in the interpretation of dreams. But the word may also be used in a derogatory sense of ‘magician’ or ‘charlatan,’ a meaning which it has in its only other New Testament occurrences outside Matthew’s nativity narrative (Acts 13:6,8). Matthew most likely has Babylonian astrologers in mind.” (Source: Newman / Stine; see also this interview .)
While most English translations either transliterate this as “magi” or translate it as “wise men,” most German versions (with the exceptions of Luther and Menge [publ. 1909]) use Sterndeuter, an old-fashioned term for astrologer. The Pfälzisch translation by Walter Sauer (publ. 2012) uses Sternegugger, also an old-fashioned term for astrologer with the verbatim meaning of “star watchers.”
In Luxembourgish, it is translated as weis Astronomen or “wise astronomers.” (Source: Zetzsche)
In Kwakum it is translated as “guardians of religious rites who look up at the starts to see the things to come” or “guardians of religions rites.” (Source: Stacey Hare in this post )
See also complete verse (Matthew 2:1).
rhyme in Judges 16:24
The Hebrew in Judges 16:25 uses a rhyme in the praise chant of the Philistines to their god Dagon where each line ends with the syllable nū (נוּ), the first person plural pronoun.
In the Lingala version this is replicated in the following manner:
« Nzambe na biso akabi na maboko na biso,
monguna na biso,
oyo azalaki kobebisa mokili na biso
mpe koboma bato ebele kati na biso. »
In some versions of other languages, some kind of rhyme scheme is used as well such as in the German Gute Nachricht Bibel (last revision 2018): Hand — Land; Macht — umgebracht.
Source: John Ellington in The Bible Translator 1991, p. 301ff.
sycamore, sycomore
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “sycamore” in English is translated in Chichewa as mkuyu or “fig tree.” (Source: Wendland 1987, p. 72)
Note that the tree referred to in these instances is the “Sycomore Fig (Ficus sycomorus), also called the “Mulberry Fig” (compare German Maulbeerfeigenbaum), is a type of fig that is found especially in low-land areas in the Mediterranean region. It was known in Egypt as early as 3000 B.C. but also in the Indus Valley in India. (…) The sycomore fig is not a tall tree (up to 10 meters [33 feet]) but has large low, spreading branches.” (Source: Koops 2012, p. 67)
Lord's supper
The now commonly-used German term Abendmahl for the Eucharist or Communion (literally meaning “evening meal”) was first coined in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. Note that the same term is also used by Luther to refer to the meal in Luke 14 and Revelation 3:20. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 46)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
man of blood
The now commonly-used German term Bluthund for a bloodthirsty or ravenous person (literally “bloodhound”) was first coined with that meaning in 1534 in the German Bible translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 53)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
a scroll with seven seals
The now commonly-used German ídiom ein Buch mit sieben Siegeln for something that is very difficult to understand (literally meaning a book with seven seals) was first coined in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 55)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
barbs in your eyes
The now commonly-used German idiom Dorn im Auge for something that is unbearable for someone (literally “a thorn in the eye”) was popularized in 1535 in the German Bible translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 58)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.