Exodus

Exodus is a term used to describe a large-scale departure of people from a place, often involving cross-border migration. Exoduses can be voluntary or forced and may arise from war, persecution, famine, natural disasters, or economic pressures. They frequently lead to resettlement in new areas and may be temporary or permanent.

The word derives from Greek exodos, meaning “a going out,” from ex- (out) and hodos (way or road). It entered English via Latin and early modern usage, and has been used in both secular and religious contexts to denote large migrations.

In religious and literary contexts, Exodus refers to the Book of Exodus, the second book of the Hebrew Bible. It chronicles the Israelites’ enslavement in Egypt, their liberation under Moses, the Exodus from Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the gathering at Mount Sinai, where the Ten Commandments are given. The narrative has had a profound influence on Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions and has been a central symbol of liberation and covenant.

In modern usage, exodus can describe any mass departure or migration driven by a combination of push and pull factors, including conflict, persecution, economic change, or disaster. The term also appears in culture as titles for works such as films and books that deal with displacement, migration, or historic liberation movements.