BIBLE BOOK GUIDE
Exodus
40 chapters
God delivers Israel from Egyptian slavery through Moses, covenants with them, and reveals His holiness, presence, and redemption.
Exodus
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Why this book was written
Exodus, likely compiled during or after the monarchy, was written to memorialize God's deliverance of Israel from bondage, to reaffirm the Sinai covenant, and to instruct a new generation on how to live as God's people before a holy God. The author's aim is to strengthen faith by presenting God's redemptive plan, covenant faithfulness, and holiness throughout Israel's history.
Structure
- 1–4Israel's Oppression and Moses' Call
- 5–18The Plagues, Exodus, and Red Sea Crossing
- 19–24The Sinai Covenant and Law
- 25–31Instructions for the Tabernacle and Worship
- 32–34The Golden Calf and Moses' Intercession
- 35–40Construction of the Tabernacle and Glory Filling It
Major themes
Redemption and Deliverance
God actively delivers Israel from slavery, foreshadowing Christ's redemption of His people from sin (chs. 1–15).
The Holiness of God
God is holy and calls His people to be set apart, to reject idolatry, and to live holy lives (chs. 19–20, 32–34).
Covenant
God establishes a covenant with Israel at Sinai, requiring obedience and faithfulness, with blessings and curses attached (chs. 19–24).
The Presence of God
The tabernacle and the pillar of glory show God dwelling among His people (chs. 25–40).
Intercession and Mediation
Moses intercedes for the people as mediator, foreshadowing Christ as our intercessor (chs. 32–34).
Worship and Giving
The people willingly give to build the tabernacle and worship God according to His instructions (chs. 25–40).
How it points to Christ
Exodus points to Christ: the Passover lamb prefigures Christ as our sacrifice (1 Cor 5:7); the Red Sea deliverance prefigures baptism and rescue from sin; Moses as mediator points to Christ as mediator of a better covenant; the mercy seat in the tabernacle prefigures redemption through Christ's blood; the manna and living water in the wilderness prefigure Christ as the Bread of Life and source of living water.
Key verses
- 3:14God reveals His name 'I AM WHO I AM,' showing His eternal, self-existent nature.
- 12:13The Passover lamb's blood shelters Israel, foreshadowing redemption through Christ's blood.
- 14:14'The LORD will fight for you,' showing God as the Deliverer.
- 19:5–6Israel as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, revealing the identity and mission of God's people.
- 20:3'No other gods before Me'—the first commandment, foundation of the covenant.
- 25:8'Let them make a sanctuary that I may dwell among them,' revealing God's presence.
- 32:32Moses offers to bear the punishment for the people, showing mediator-like intercession.
- 33:18–19Moses asks to see God's glory; God proclaims His mercy and grace.
Films & series on Exodus
Each has a guide: scripture sources, where it departs from the Bible, discussion questions, and where to watch

The Prince of Egypt
Film · 1998
The strong bond between two Royal Egyptian brothers is challenged when their chosen responsibilities set them at odds, with extraordinary consequences.

The Ten Commandments
Film · 1956
Escaping death, a Hebrew infant is raised in a royal household to become a prince. Upon discovery of his true heritage, Moses embarks on a personal quest to reclaim his destiny as the leader and liberator of the Hebrew people.

Exodus: Gods and Kings
Film · 2014
The defiant leader Moses rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses, setting 400,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.
Reflections on Exodus
People in this book
Questions for reflection
- ·What attributes of God are revealed in Israel's deliverance, and how do they deepen your understanding of His nature?
- ·How does Moses' intercession in the golden calf event reflect Christ's role as our intercessor?
- ·Which commandment do you find most challenging, and how can you rely on God's grace to obey it?
- ·God wanted the tabernacle so He could dwell with Israel. How does God dwell in us today?
- ·Israel often grumbled in the wilderness. What does this warn us about in our own faith journey?
Where Exodus fits in the Bible's storyline
This book appears in the 12-stop storyline at:
Where to start reading the Bible? See the full 12-stop storyline
Want to read Exodus start to finish? Open the reader for parallel Chinese/English text and ask anything as you go.
Start reading ExodusExodus
Chapter 20
1And God spake all these words, saying,
2I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me,
6and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
7Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;
10but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
13Thou shalt not kill.
14Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15Thou shalt not steal.
16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
17Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.
18And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off.
19And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
20And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before you, that ye sin not.
21And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
22And Jehovah said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
23Ye shall not make other gods with me; gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you.
24An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in every place where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee.
25And if thou make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
26Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not uncovered thereon.
