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Learn the history and meaning of the phrase, and why it is being used more online.
A phrase mocking Jewish historical and religious ties to the land of Israel has gained significant traction across social media platforms in recent months. “It was promised to them 3,000 years ago” is a phrase which references the biblical concept of the land of Israel being divinely promised to the Jewish people. However, on social media it is often used sarcastically to delegitimize Jewish ancestral claims to the land of Israel, implying irrational entitlement or clinging to ancient myths. The phrase also extends beyond mentions of Israel which echo antisemitic tropes of Jewish power and control.
The expression, which may seem innocuous, carries antisemitic undertones. It is commonly used to portray Jewish people as entitled and deceitful. The posts exploit the concept of the “promised land” from the Torah, demonizing Jews through the belief that the state of Israel is illegitimate. However, these posts extend beyond references to Israel, with many sarcastically saying that Jews will use this “excuse” to claim other countries as their own, reflecting the antisemitic trope that Jews are power hungry and plotting to control the world.
For example, one user posted, “Jews will claim France was promised to them 6 million years ago too,” including a mocking reference to the 6 million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust.
Another user wrote “Nah India has a feud with Muslims and some intercaste BS. India will be too held up with Jews who will claim India was promised to them 3000000 years ago.” Both countries have no connection to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Although the phrase has gained notoriety in recent times, it has been circulated online for years. The Command Center tracked the use of the phrase in antisemitic way back to July 2014, in a post that reads, “@NWcarol28 legal and moral existence? Explain that to me? Because it was promised 3000 years ago, all the Jews there now are from Europe.” Since then, the phrase has periodically resurfaced, often during periods of heightened attention on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Following the October 7th attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza, the phrase has seen a dramatic resurgence. Since that date, it has appeared in nearly 300,000 posts on X alone. However, the phrase has proliferated across many platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, and YouTube.
Its use has intensified sharply in 2025, with a 471% increase in the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2024. Notably, 91% of posts using the phrase this year were published after March, pointing to a rapid and recent spike in activity. Further analysis has found that the majority of these posts originate from younger users. 76% of posts since March came from accounts categorized as Gen Z or millennial, indicating that the phrase is being widely adopted by users under the age of 40.
As with many recent antisemitic trends, this phrase often circulates through sarcasm and meme culture, allowing harmful ideas to spread under the guise of satire. This phrase allows users to spread hateful ideas without using explicit hateful language, often by design, delegitimizing Jewish connection to Israel and portraying Jews as greedy and manipulative, while reaching a larger unassuming audience.
Reprinted with permission from https://www.fcas.org/
Cont it started with words and cartoons that made Jews look bad and ended with murder of 6 million Jews and concentration camps and killing places which I know about my mom( obm) was in Auschwitz-Birneau, and if you take me off then you can be a Holocaust denier instead of a foundation combating anti semitism, " Never Again " means now we need the JDL to protect Jews not words and texts, a lot of countries have sky high anti Semitic crimes against Jews, and if a Israeli goes to a concert they call her human, what is she a alien, it is not what the world thinks the world allowed murder of 6 million Jews and 5 million non Jews and once again where at the same spot big anti semitism and are still debating it, instead action and Jews should believe Israel belongs to them
The problem is the world believes these lies, propaganda, and mocking what the so called " Palestinans" say, I read when they dig up evidence that Jews had the land the enemies try to destroy the evidence like with the tunnels under the Kotel( Western Wall) these Muslim Arab terrorists got what they are doing from Joseph Gobbels ( may his name be erased) the Nazi ( may his name be erased) propaganda minister, and the popular book in Gaza and the Muslim Arab terrorists countries is " Mein Kenif" by Adolf Hitler ( may his name be erased) in Arabic the orginal was in German if you take what I wrote now off then you are not a foundation for combating anti semitism, but promoting it because past history is connected to present history, and nobody learned the lesson of the Holocaust it
Why is a alleged foundation combating anti semitism quoting from the Christian and Islamic Bible, instead of the Jewish bible, secondly if after the Holocaust the survivors of the Holocaust went to rebuild the land promised to the Jews by Hashem , my mom( obm) was told in Poland when she( obm) was 10 " Jew go to Palestine " now others are claiming the land of Israel for themselves they are calling themselves so called " Palestinans" the Jews are the real Palestinans, this denial and lies and propaganda in mocking the Jewish claim was written in the prophets before Moshiach comes Ishmael wants to steal the identity of the Jewish people, our enemies got there handbook from the Nazis ( may their name be erased) and want the the world and Israel " Judenrein " ( free of Jews)
Foundation of combating anti semitism is taking off what I wrote two times having to do with Jewish bible and sources in Judaism having to do with Jewish claim to Israel, so in my view is by writing this article you are helping spreading the lies and propaganda of enemies of the Jewish people. and you are defeating your purpose of fighting anti semitism by this article you seem like promoting a very anti Semitic book, your organization is sounding like you agree with this bogus caption, which is very disturbing and horrifying to me, don't claim to be combating anti semitism by writing such rubbish in a Jewish organization, shame on your organization are you really a organization for Jews and Israel or their enemies, your organization is mocking Jews the way I see
I'm pretty sure you've misread this article, Judy.
I don't think anyone disputes that the bible says that the Land of Israel was promised to the Israelites 3000 years ago.
The issue is whether or not it is antisemitic to reject today sovereignty claims that are founded on what the bible says. The problem occurs when religion crosses into politics; when a religious belief conflicts with a political reality.
The author seems to be asserting that it is antisemitic to criticize this Jewish religious argument.
To accuse something of antisemitism, there must be elements of falsehood and malice. Clearly, there are instances which are indeed malicious, but there are also good faith arguments against the premise of the article and which are not antisemitic.
No, I didn't
Perhaps, then, you should quote something from the article that supports your reading that the article is "helping spreading the lies and propaganda of enemies".
Did you read the article or just the title?
You don't think that the increasing usage of this phrase by non-Jews parallels the increasing influence of ultra-nationalist Israelis who are using similar language and making sovereignty claims that are not supported internationally? Which side actually started using this phrase first?
I never appreciated the Sages' condemnation of "LEYTZANUTH" ("mocking") on a national or international level until I read your article, DESPITE being surrounded by it. Your article sharpened up the danger. Though there were mockers over Avraham fathering Yitzchaq/Isaac after Avimelekh kidnapped Sarah & she subsequently became pregnant AND HaShem AVOIDED taking us out of Egypt in the way of the Philistines who were big mockers, THOSE WERE always distant in time & place. Social media's mocking is up close & personal &...IMMINENTLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT BLOCKS ANY OTHER IDEAS from PENETRATING! 4 responses: 1) silence (Proverbs 26:04) 2) serious, grounded words/actions to puncture the emptiness (Maharal)
Attacking Jewish ownership of the Land of Israel is a DIRECT ATTACK ON ISLAM!
Two things:
First, Surah Al-Ankabut 29 was revealed before Muhammad had been rejected by the Jews of Medina. The early, Meccan surahs present a very different view of the Jews when compared to the later, Medinan surahs.
Second, the Qur'an does indeed acknowledge the covenant with the Children of Israel (5:12), however, the very next verse describes the breaking the covenant: 5:13 "So for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them ...". Then, 5:15 makes clear what the Jews must do to redeem themselves "there has come to you Our Messenger ..."
It is important when reading the Qur'an to consider the context of the surrounding verses.
Obviously, devout Muslims understand that the Qur'an does not grant Jewish ownership of the Land of Israel.
I hope that you have read verses before and after these for context.
An important thing to know about the language is that "Children of Israel" refers to the ancient Israelites. The Qur'an uses a different word (yahudi) to refer to the Jews of that time, to whom much of these chapters were addressed. For example, the nearby verse Surah Al-Baqarah 02:120 contrasts the Jews hearing these verses with the ancient Israelites: "And never will the Jews and the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion. Say, "Indeed, the guidance of Allāh is the [only] guidance." If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allāh no protector or helper."
Likewise, Surah Al-Ma’idah 05:18 disparages the Jews.
I thought that Christians believe in the Bible, or at least have they read it?
Some Christian sects see our Tanach as the “ Old” Testament, a history of the Israelites, but the mitzvot are inapplicable because of JC. Evangelicals take some parts of the Bible literally, and the final book of the New Testament foretells the end of days, which will include the in gathering of Jews from all over the world.
The moral compass of the majority of humanity is spinning wildly out of control.