The now commonly-used German term Lockvogel, which now refers to someone used as a decoy with a bad, often criminal intent (literally “decoy bird” — partridges were not used as decoys in German hunting during Luther’s time), was made popular in 1534 in the German Bible translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 87)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used German idiom Maul stopfen, which now either refers to gluttonous eating or to silencing someone by proving or showing that despite them being big-mouthed (“großmäulig”) about something thatthey were wrong after all (literally “stuff one’s (animal-like) mouth”), was made popular in 1534 in the German Bible translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 89)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used German idiom Maul halten, which today is a coarse way of saying “be quiet” (literally “hold one’s [animal-like] mouth”), was made popular in 1534 in the German Bible translation by Martin Luther. Note that from the 1956 of the Luther Bible edition on forward, this was replaced with the equally colloquial but less coarse Mund halten (literally “hold one’s mouth”). (Source: Günther 2017, p. 90)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The Greek that is often translated in English as “sound a trumpet before you” is translated in Kayaw as “blow flutes beat drums.” “Flutes and drums are always played at Kayaw festivals and special occasions; flute and drum bands normally accompany visiting dignitaries in a procession as they arrive at a festival.” (Source: Anonymous)
In the English Good News Version (publ. 1966) it is translated non-figuratively as do not make a big show of it and the German equivalent, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch (publ. 1968) uses an existing German figure of speech with nicht an die große Glocke hängen (literally: “don’t hang it on the great bell”), meaning “don’t make a big fuss about it” or “don’t broadcast it all around.” (Source: Newman / Stine) See also expose to public disgrace.
The newly-created expression that Luther used in 1522 in the German New Testament translation, ausposaunen, has become a widely used idiom with the meaning of “broadcast (new information)” (literally “to trumpet out”). (Source: Jost Zetzsche)
The now commonly-used German idiom Der Mensch lebt nicht vom Brot allein, which today is 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”) was coined in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 90)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
See also man cannot live by bread alone.
The now commonly-used German idiom Mördergrube (literally “murderers’ pit”), which today is primarily used in the expression “aus seinem Herzen keine Mördergrube machen” or “to speak freely” (literally: “don’t turn your heart into a murderers pit”), was made popular in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. Note that from the 1956 the Luther Bible edition on forward, this was replaced with the more correct Räuberhöhle. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 90)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The now commonly-used German idiom die Augen gehen über (literally “the eyes overflow”), which today primarily means “amazed” (in the sense of “making big eyes”) was made popular in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther.
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
In Burmese, the widely-used translation by Judson adds an honorific particle to every verb that describes an action of Jesus, so here he “cries royally.” (source: S.V. Vincent in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 196f. )
In the Pfälzisch translation by Walter Sauer (publ. 2012) it is idiomatically translated as (Do sin Jesus) die Träne kumme, literally “Jesus’ tears came.” (source: Zetzsche)
The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated as “elders” in English is translated in the Danish Bibelen 2020 as folkets ledere or “leaders of the people.”
Martin Ehrensvärd, one of the translators, explains: “The term ‘elder’ turned out to pose a particularly thorny problem. In traditional bibles, you can find elders all of over the place and they never pose a problem for a translator, they are just always elders. But how to find a contemporary term for this semi-official, complex position? This may have been our longest-standing problem. A couple of times we thought we had the solution, and then implemented it throughout the texts, only to find out that it didn’t work. Like when we used city council or village council, depending on the context. In the end we felt that the texts didn’t work with such official terms, and throughout the years in the desert, these terms didn’t make much sense. Other suggestions were ‘the eldest and wisest’, ‘the respected citizens’, ‘the Israelites with a certain position in society’, ‘the elder council’ –- and let me point out that these terms sound better in Danish than in English (‘de fremtrædende borgere,’ ‘de mest fremtrædende israelitter,’ ‘alle israelitter med en vis position,’ ‘de ældste og de klogeste,’ ‘ældsterådet’). In the end we just said ‘leaders of the people.’ After a lot of hand-wringing, it turned out that we actually found a term that worked well. So, we had to give up conveying the fact that they were old, but the most important point is that they were community leaders.” (Source: Ehrensvärd in HIPHIL Novum 8/2023, p. 81ff. )
The German das Buch translation by Roland Werner (publ. 2009-2022) translates likewise as “leader of the people” (Anführer des Volkes).