Exodus

New International Version

Exodus has 40 chapters. Read Exodus in the New International Version, chapter by chapter, free and without an account.

Exodus tells how God delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through Moses and brings them to Sinai. There, the people receive commandments and enter a covenant. The story continues through the golden calf, covenant renewal, and the building of the tabernacle, ending with God’s glory filling the sanctuary.

Read the Exodus summary and outline →

In Christian Bibles, Exodus is one of the five books of the Pentateuch of the Old Testament. In the Jewish Tanakh it belongs to the Torah. See it on the shelf.

Shiphrah and Puah sheltering a newborn as Israel's families endure forced brick labor
Exodus 1

Exodus 1 recounts Israel's growth, Pharaoh's oppression and deadly orders, and the courage of the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah.

Pharaoh's daughter finding the infant Moses among the Nile reeds as Miriam watches
Exodus 2

Exodus 2 follows Moses' rescue from the Nile, flight to Midian, marriage to Zipporah, and Israel's continuing cries under bondage.

Moses standing barefoot before the burning bush on holy ground at Horeb
Exodus 3

Exodus 3 recounts the burning bush, God's response to Israel's suffering, the divine name, and Moses' commission to confront Pharaoh.

Moses and Aaron reuniting in the wilderness with the staff as Israel's elders worship
Exodus 4

Exodus 4 recounts the signs given to Moses, Aaron's partnership, Moses' return toward Egypt, and Israel's elders believing their message.

Moses and Aaron facing grieving brick workers after Pharaoh withholds their straw
Exodus 5

Exodus 5 records Pharaoh's refusal, the harsher brick quota without supplied straw, Israel's distress, and Moses' anguished questions.

Moses and Aaron speaking covenant hope among weary Israelite families in bondage
Exodus 6

Exodus 6 renews God's covenant promises amid Israel's anguish and traces the family line of Moses and Aaron before their mission resumes.

Moses and Aaron confronting Pharaoh beside the Nile as its waters turn red
Exodus 7

Exodus 7 recounts Aaron's staff before Pharaoh, the Egyptian magicians' response, and the Nile and Egypt's waters turning to blood.

Moses and Aaron between plague-struck Egypt and the calm fields of Goshen
Exodus 8

Exodus 8 recounts the frogs, gnats, and swarms, Pharaoh's repeated bargaining, the magicians' admission, and Goshen being set apart.

Moses raising his staff as warned families shelter from the hail and Goshen remains clear
Exodus 9

Exodus 9 recounts livestock disease, boils, destructive hail, protection in Goshen, and Pharaoh's confession followed by renewed refusal.

Moses standing between Egypt's darkness and the light of Israel's dwellings
Exodus 10

Exodus 10 recounts the locusts, three days of darkness, light in Israel's dwellings, and Pharaoh's failed attempts at partial compromise.

Moses leaving Pharaoh at night as Egyptian neighbors give valuables to Israelite families preparing to depart
Exodus 11

Exodus 11 announces the final plague, Israel's distinction and favor among the Egyptians, and Moses' last warning before Pharaoh.

An Israelite household sharing the Passover meal ready to travel as families depart Egypt at dawn
Exodus 12

Exodus 12 establishes Passover, recounts the final plague and Pharaoh's surrender, and follows Israel's hurried departure from Egypt.

Israelite families following the cloud pillar as Joseph's covered remains are carried through the wilderness
Exodus 13

Exodus 13 joins firstborn consecration and remembered deliverance with Israel's wilderness route, Joseph's remains, and guidance by cloud and fire.

Israelite families crossing the divided sea on dry ground as Moses raises his staff toward the open way
Exodus 14

Exodus 14 recounts Pharaoh's pursuit, Israel's passage through the divided sea on dry ground, and deliverance from the Egyptian force.

Miriam leading women with hand drums beside the sea as Moses tends the water on the journey toward Elim
Exodus 15

Exodus 15 celebrates deliverance in song, then follows Israel through bitter water at Marah to the springs and palms of Elim.

Israelite families gathering manna from the wilderness ground as the camp prepares for Sabbath rest
Exodus 16

Exodus 16 recounts Israel's hunger, the provision of quail and manna, equal daily portions, Sabbath rest, and a preserved memorial.

Families receiving water from the rock as Aaron and Hur support Moses' raised staff on the ridge
Exodus 17

Exodus 17 recounts water from the rock at Rephidim and Israel's defense against Amalek while Aaron and Hur support Moses.

Jethro reuniting Moses with Zipporah and their sons as appointed leaders hear groups throughout the camp
Exodus 18

Exodus 18 recounts Moses' family reunion, Jethro's joy over Israel's deliverance, and his counsel to appoint trustworthy judges.

Israel gathered behind the boundary at Mount Sinai as Moses ascends toward the cloud and fire
Exodus 19

Exodus 19 brings Israel to Sinai for covenant preparation as the people accept their calling and gather behind holy boundaries.

Moses approaching the thick cloud on Sinai as Israel stands at a reverent distance near an unhewn altar
Exodus 20

Exodus 20 presents the covenant commands at Sinai, the people's reverent response, Moses approaching the cloud, and instructions for altars.

Israelite elders hearing community disputes involving workers, livestock, and property
Exodus 21

Exodus 21 outlines covenant laws for servants, injuries, negligence, livestock, and property, emphasizing accountability and restoration.

Israelites restoring property and caring for vulnerable neighbors in a desert community
Exodus 22

Exodus 22 covers restitution, property, lending, worship, and protection for foreigners, widows, orphans, and the poor.

Israelites practicing fair judgment, Sabbath rest, and pilgrimage in the wilderness
Exodus 23

Exodus 23 joins truthful justice and Sabbath rest with Israel’s annual festivals and God’s promised guidance toward the land.

An altar and twelve covenant stones at Sinai as Moses and Israel's elders approach the mountain
Exodus 24

Exodus 24 recounts Israel’s covenant confirmation at Sinai, the altar and twelve pillars, and Moses entering the cloud for forty days.

Skilled artisans crafting the ark, bread table, and lampstand from donated materials
Exodus 25

Exodus 25 calls for willing offerings and gives instructions for the ark, bread table, and lampstand in Israel’s sanctuary.

Moses viewing the tabernacle's layered curtains, wooden frames, and closed inner veil
Exodus 26

Exodus 26 describes the tabernacle’s curtains, coverings, frames, veil, and entrance screen as a portable sacred dwelling.

The bronze altar and linen courtyard with Israelites preparing pure olive oil for the lamp
Exodus 27

Exodus 27 gives instructions for the bronze altar, tabernacle courtyard, and pure olive oil for the continually tended lamp.

Aaron and his sons wearing carefully crafted priestly garments before the tabernacle
Exodus 28

Exodus 28 describes Aaron’s priesthood and sacred garments, including the ephod and breastpiece bearing Israel’s tribal names.

Moses consecrating Aaron with Aaron's four sons standing beside the altar
Exodus 29

Exodus 29 prescribes the consecration of Aaron and his sons, daily offerings, and God’s promise to dwell among Israel.

Priests tending the incense altar, bronze basin, anointing oil, and sacred incense
Exodus 30

Exodus 30 describes the incense altar, census offering, bronze basin, sacred anointing oil, and incense for holy use.

Skilled artisans working under Bezalel and Oholiab as Moses holds the covenant tablets
Exodus 31

Exodus 31 commissions Bezalel and Oholiab for Spirit-given craftsmanship, renews the Sabbath command, and gives Moses the tablets.

Moses descending Sinai with the tablets while the golden calf stands in Israel's camp
Exodus 32

Exodus 32 recounts the golden calf, Moses’ intercession, the broken tablets, destruction of the idol, and judgment in Israel’s camp.

Moses at the tent of meeting outside Israel's camp with a luminous cloud at the entrance
Exodus 33

Exodus 33 centers on the tent of meeting, Moses’ intercession, and his plea for God’s presence and a deeper vision of divine glory.

Moses descending Sinai with new stone tablets and a radiant face as Israel watches
Exodus 34

Exodus 34 recounts new tablets, God’s merciful character, covenant renewal, and Moses returning from Sinai with a radiant face.

Israelite families bringing freewill offerings as skilled workers prepare tabernacle materials
Exodus 35

Exodus 35 joins Sabbath rest with freewill offerings and the community’s skilled, willing participation in building the tabernacle.

Artisans constructing the tabernacle as Moses asks the people to stop bringing abundant gifts
Exodus 36

Exodus 36 describes gifts so abundant they are stopped and the skilled construction of the tabernacle’s curtains, frames, and veils.

Bezalel and other artisans crafting the ark, bread table, lampstand, and incense altar
Exodus 37

Exodus 37 recounts Bezalel’s careful construction of the ark, table, lampstand, incense altar, sacred oil, and incense.

Artisans completing the bronze altar, basin, and courtyard while workers inventory donated metals
Exodus 38

Exodus 38 describes the bronze altar, basin, linen courtyard, and careful inventory of materials used for the tabernacle.

Artisans presenting completed priestly garments and tabernacle furnishings for Moses to inspect
Exodus 39

Exodus 39 completes the priestly garments and tabernacle work, which Moses inspects and blesses after finding it faithfully made.

The completed tabernacle surrounded by Israel's camp beneath a luminous guiding cloud at dusk
Exodus 40

Exodus 40 completes the tabernacle as divine glory fills it and the cloud and fire guide Israel through every stage of the journey.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Text unchanged, provided through API.Bible.