Exodus is book 2 of the 39 books of the Old Testament and belongs to the Law (Pentateuch) section. See how it fits with the rest in our guide to all 66 books of the Bible.
Quick facts
- Section
- Old Testament · Law (Pentateuch)
- Genre
- Narrative and law
- Author (traditional)
- Moses, according to Jewish and Christian tradition; the book records Moses writing down parts of it (e.g. Exodus 17:14; 24:4).
- Other views on authorship
- Many scholars see Exodus as woven from several sources and completed in the exile or after; others hold that much of it goes back to Moses' time.
- Date (traditional)
- About 1440–1400 BC, soon after the events (on an early date for the Exodus); others place the events in the 13th century BC.
- Other views on dating
- The final form is commonly dated between the 7th and 5th centuries BC, drawing on older traditions.
- Chapters
- 40
- Verses
- 1,213
- Reading time
- About 145 minutes (28,937 words in the BSB)
What is Exodus about?
Exodus opens four centuries after Genesis. Jacob's family has grown into a nation, and a new Pharaoh has turned them into slave labor and ordered their baby boys killed. One Hebrew baby, Moses, is hidden in a basket, raised in Pharaoh's palace, flees after killing an Egyptian and spends forty years as a shepherd. At a burning bush God calls him back to Egypt and reveals his name: 'I AM WHO I AM.'
The first half is a contest between the LORD and Pharaoh. Ten plagues strike Egypt, ending with the death of the firstborn, while Israel is spared by the blood of the Passover lamb. Israel walks out free, crosses the sea on dry ground and sings of God's victory. Then come hunger, thirst and grumbling in the wilderness, met with manna, water from the rock and a victory over Amalek.
The second half takes place at Mount Sinai. God makes a covenant with Israel, gives the Ten Commandments and further laws, and lays out detailed plans for the tabernacle, a portable tent where he will dwell among them. Almost at once the people worship a golden calf. Moses intercedes, God renews the covenant, and the book ends with God's glory filling the finished tabernacle.
Outline of Exodus
| ChaptersCh. | Section |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Slavery and the birth of Moses Israel is oppressed in Egypt; Moses is saved as a baby and later flees to Midian. |
| 3–4 | The burning bush God calls Moses, reveals his name and sends him back with Aaron. |
| 5–11 | Moses confronts Pharaoh Pharaoh hardens his heart as nine plagues strike Egypt. |
| 12–13 | Passover The tenth plague, the first Passover and Israel's departure. |
| 14–15 | Crossing the sea God parts the sea, Egypt's army is lost, and Moses and Miriam lead a song of praise. |
| 16–18 | Into the wilderness Manna, quail, water from the rock, victory over Amalek and Jethro's advice. |
| 19–24 | The covenant at Sinai God appears on the mountain, gives the Ten Commandments and the Book of the Covenant, and the covenant is sealed. |
| 25–31 | Plans for the tabernacle Instructions for the tent, its furniture, the priests and the Sabbath. |
| 32–34 | The golden calf and renewal Israel breaks the covenant; Moses intercedes and God reveals his merciful character. |
| 35–40 | The tabernacle built The people give freely, the craftsmen build, and God's glory fills the tent. |
Key themes
- God who rescues. Exodus defines God as the one who hears the cry of the oppressed and acts. Later Scripture keeps pointing back to it: 'I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt' (Exodus 20:2; Deuteronomy 5:6).
- Knowing God's name. God reveals himself as the LORD (Yahweh), the faithful 'I AM', and later as compassionate, gracious and slow to anger (Exodus 34:6–7) — a description repeated throughout the Bible.
- Covenant and law. The law is given to a people already rescued. Obedience is a grateful response to grace, not a way to earn it.
- God's presence. The book moves from God appearing in fire on a distant mountain to God living in the middle of the camp. Whether God will go with his people sits at its heart (chapter 33).
- Worship and idolatry. The golden calf shows how quickly people reshape God into something manageable, and how costly that is.
Key people and places
- Moses — Prophet and leader who brings Israel out of Egypt.
- Aaron — Moses' brother and spokesman; Israel's first high priest.
- Miriam — Moses' sister, a prophet who leads the song at the sea.
- Pharaoh — Egypt's king, who refuses to let Israel go.
- Jethro — Moses' father-in-law, a priest of Midian who advises him.
- Joshua — Moses' young assistant and Israel's military leader.
- Bezalel — Craftsman filled with God's Spirit to build the tabernacle.
Places: Egypt, Goshen, Midian, Mount Sinai (Horeb), the Red Sea, Wilderness of Sin, Rephidim.
Key verses in Exodus
Quoted from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’””
“The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
“But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.””
““I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me.”
“Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.””
How Exodus fits the big story
Exodus picks up where Genesis ends: Abraham's family is in Egypt, and the promise of a land is still waiting. God remembers his covenant and turns that family into a redeemed nation. The pattern of slavery, rescue by blood, passage through water and life with God becomes the Bible's main picture of salvation. The prophets promise a 'new exodus' from exile, and the New Testament presents Jesus as the Passover lamb who leads his people out of a deeper slavery. The tabernacle points ahead to the temple and to God dwelling with people for good. The book flows straight into Leviticus, which explains how a holy God can live among an imperfect people, and Numbers, which follows the journey from Sinai toward Canaan.
How to read Exodus
At 3 chapters a day you can read Exodus in 14 days. Read chapters 1–20 as a fast-moving story, then slow down for the covenant and tabernacle chapters, asking what each detail says about living near a holy God. Chapters 32–34 are the emotional peak of the book.