What Was Exodus and What Does It Mean?
The word Exodus literally means "the road out".
But in the Bible, it is the book of Exodus that illustrates God's redemptive plan of leading His people out of bondage in Egypt through His servant Moses, to the promised land flowing with milk and honey, first taking them through the wilderness.
Scholarly Table On Exodus And What It Meant To The Children of Israel (Including the key events).
| Aspect | Description / Event | Scholarly Interpretation / Commentary | Significance for Israel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Departure of Israelites from Egypt under Moses (Exodus 1–15) | Scholars (e.g., Nahum Sarna: Exploring Exodus) note that Exodus is both historical memory and theological narrative, emphasizing God’s deliverance rather than just chronology. | Establishes God as deliverer; central identity-forming event for Israel as a people set apart. |
| Oppression in Egypt | Israelites enslaved and oppressed for generations (Exodus 1:8–14) | Seen as historical context and symbolic representation of human suffering; scholars (e.g., Walter Brueggemann) interpret it as a foil to demonstrate God’s power and justice. | Reinforces Israel’s understanding of God’s justice and mercy; motivates dependence on God. |
| Call of Moses | God calls Moses at the burning bush to deliver Israel (Exodus 3) | Moses as mediator; God’s revelation emphasizes covenant faithfulness. | Shows God’s direct involvement in human history and sets a pattern for obedience and leadership. |
| Plagues on Egypt | Series of ten plagues culminating in Passover (Exodus 7–12) | Scholars highlight theological purpose: demonstration of God’s supremacy over Egyptian gods and powers (Sarna, Breuggemann). | Strengthens Israel’s faith; shows God’s power and protection; introduces Passover as ritual remembrance. |
| Passover / Lamb’s blood | Blood on doorposts protects Israelites from the death of firstborn | Seen as covenantal sign and theological symbol; typologically points to redemption (Exodus 12) | Central ritual commemorating deliverance; foreshadows atonement and salvation. |
| Crossing the Red Sea | God miraculously parts waters for escape (Exodus 14) | Scholars note this as climax of liberation narrative; represents God’s decisive intervention (Gordon Wenham). | Confirms God’s protection, separates Israel from Egypt; inspires trust in God. |
| Journey to Sinai / Wilderness | 40 years in desert, dependence on God for sustenance | Wilderness seen as formative space for identity, discipline, and covenantal instruction (Brueggemann: Theology of the Old Testament) | Teaches reliance on God; shapes communal, moral, and religious life; preparation for covenant. |
| Covenant at Sinai | Giving of the Law (Exodus 19–24) | Law framed as response to deliverance; scholars emphasize covenant as relational, not merely legalistic (Sarna) | Israel’s national and spiritual identity defined; God’s people distinguished by obedience and worship. |
| Ark of the Covenant / Tabernacle | God’s presence dwelling with Israel (Exodus 25–40) | Symbol of God’s glory and covenant; mobile worship emphasizes God’s guidance and protection | Central focus of worship and presence; reinforces God’s continual guidance in journey. |
| Theological Meaning | Liberation, covenant, identity, God’s sovereignty | Exodus functions as foundational narrative; shapes theology, liturgy, and ethics of Israel (e.g., Breuggemann, Wright) | Reinforces collective memory; annual festivals (Passover) perpetuate identity and covenant relationship; typology in later Jewish and Christian thought. |
The Biblical Narrative
Exodus 6:1-8
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”
2 And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am [a]the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord[b] I was not known to them. 4 I have also [c]established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their [d]pilgrimage, in which they were [e]strangers. 5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. 6 Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with [f]an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am theLord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you into the land which I swore[g] to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’ ”
References:
Books / Commentaries
Sarna, Nahum M. Exploring Exodus: The Origins and Meaning of the Biblical Story of Liberation. Schocken Books, 1996.
Discusses historical, literary, and theological dimensions of the Exodus narrative.
Brueggemann, Walter. Theology of the Old Testament: Testimony, Dispute, Advocacy. Fortress Press, 1997.
Emphasizes the theological and ethical significance of Israel’s liberation and covenant formation.
Wenham, Gordon J. Exodus: Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 2. Thomas Nelson, 1996.
Detailed analysis of the Exodus narrative, including plagues, Red Sea crossing, and Sinai covenant.
Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus 1–16: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible, 1991.
Provides context for sacrificial practices including Passover, highlighting theological meaning for Israel.
Wright, N. T. The New Testament and the People of God. SPCK, 1992.
Explores typological and theological links between Old Testament Exodus events and New Testament understanding of salvation.
Motyer, J. Alec. The Message of Exodus: The Days of Our Pilgrimage. Inter-Varsity Press, 2005.
Focuses on literary structure and theological messages in Exodus.
Kidner, Derek. Psalms 1–72: An Introduction and Commentary. IVP, 1973.
Relevant for understanding connections between Exodus themes and Israel’s worship life (e.g., psalmic reflection on deliverance).
Articles / Essays
Walton, John H. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. InterVarsity Press, 2000.
Provides cultural and historical context for events such as slavery in Egypt, plagues, and wilderness wandering.
Beale, G. K. A New Testament Biblical Theology: The Unfolding of the Old Testament in the New. Baker Academic, 2011.
Explains how Exodus is interpreted in New Testament theology, including typology of salvation.
Coogan, Michael D. The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha, 5th Edition. Oxford University Press, 2018.
Provides scholarly notes on Exodus, covenant, and Passover rituals.
