The Jews and Their Lies

Luther's Late and Bitter Treatise

Published in 1543, three years before Martin Luther's death, Von den Juden und ihren Lugen (On the Jews and Their Lies) is the Protestant reformer's most notorious work. It was written after decades of failed efforts to convert the Jews to Christianity, and its tone reflects that frustration. The treatise advocates the burning of synagogues, the confiscation of Jewish property, the prohibition of rabbinical teaching, and the expulsion of Jews who refuse conversion. It stands in sharp contrast to Luther's earlier and more conciliatory 1523 essay, "That Jesus Christ Was Born a Jew."

Historical Significance

The treatise is an unavoidable document for anyone studying the history of European antisemitism. Scholars have debated its influence on later developments, with some arguing that it contributed directly to the intellectual climate that made modern racial antisemitism possible in Germany, and others maintaining that Luther's hostility was theological rather than racial in character. Both positions have merit. What is not debatable is that the text was reprinted and cited by antisemites for centuries after Luther's death, including by the Nazi regime, which distributed excerpts as propaganda.

Reading This Text

This is a primary source, not a scholarly edition with critical apparatus. It contains the full text of Luther's treatise in English translation. Readers should approach it as a historical document that reveals something important about the intersection of Christian theology, political power, and anti-Jewish hostility in early modern Europe. It is not pleasant reading, and it is not meant to be. It is meant to be understood in its context, which requires the reader to bring some knowledge of the Reformation, the medieval Church's treatment of Jews, and the social conditions of sixteenth-century Germany.

About This Edition

Author: Martin Luther
Publisher: Liberty Bell Publications
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781593640248