The men's javelin throw was a track and field athletics event held as part of the athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme.

It was the second appearance of the event, but in 1908 it was a standing throw with no run up.

Twenty-five javelin throwers from seven nations competed.

(*) unofficial Julius Saaristo set at first a new Olympic record with 55.37 m. Eric Lemming improved the record to 57.42 m and finally to 60.64 m. Three days later on July 9, 1912 Julius Saaristo set a new Olympic record in the two handed javelin throw competition with 61.00 m. Saaristo took the lead after the first throw, and made an even better second throw to stay ahead of Lemming.

On the third throw, however, Saaristo scratched and Lemming threw his javelin well over 57 metres to take the lead going into the finals, with Kóczán wresting third place from Halme on the final throw to advance as well.