Old Testament
The Book of Exodus
The Book of Exodus is the second of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 40 chapters and 1,211 verses.
About Exodus
About Exodus · Deliverance narrative
Exodus tells how God pulled a nation of slaves out of Egypt and bound himself to them at Sinai. Traditionally ascribed to Moses, it reached its final form over a long history of retelling, because Israel never stopped needing the story. It was written so that every later generation would know its God as the one who hears the oppressed and acts, and would understand the commandments not as arbitrary rules but as the terms of a rescue already accomplished. The Passover it describes became the Church's own template for reading the death and rising of Christ.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 2 of 46, 2 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 40 |
| Verses | 1,211, as Bless numbers them |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 40 chapters · 54 notes |
| Catechism | 45 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 40 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Exodus 1
22 versesThe Israelites are multiplied in Egypt. They are oppressed by a new king, who commandeth all their male children to be killed.
Exodus 2
25 versesMoses is born and exposed on the bank of the river; where he is taken up by the daughter of Pharao, and adopted for her son. He killeth an Egyptian, and fleeth into Madian; where he marrieth a wife.
Exodus 3
22 versesGod appeareth to Moses in a bush, and sendeth him to deliver Israel.
Exodus 4
31 versesMoses is empowered to confirm his mission with miracles: his brother Aaron is appointed to assist him.
Exodus 5
23 versesPharao refuseth to let the people go. They are more oppressed.
Exodus 6
30 versesGod reneweth his promise. The genealogies of Ruben, Simon and Levi, down to Moses and Aaron.
Exodus 7
25 versesMoses and Aaron go into Pharao: they turn the rod into a serpent; and the waters of Egypt into blood, which was the first plague. The magicians do the like, and Pharao's heart is hardened.
Exodus 8
32 versesThe second plague is of frogs: Pharao promiseth to let the Israelites go, but breaketh his promise. The third plague is of sciniphs. The fourth is of flies. Pharao again promiseth to dismiss the people, but doth it not.
Exodus 9
35 versesThe fifth plague is a murrain among the cattle. The sixth, of boils in men and beasts. The seventh, of hail. Pharao promiseth again to let the people go, and breaketh his word.
Exodus 10
29 versesThe eighth plague of the locusts. The ninth, of darkness: Pharao is still hardened.
Exodus 11
10 versesPharao and his people are threatened with the death of their firstborn.
Exodus 12
51 versesThe manner of preparing, and eating the paschal lamb: the firstborn of Egypt are all slain: the Israelites depart.
Exodus 13
22 versesThe paschal solemnity is to be observed; and the firstborn are to be consecrated to God. The people are conducted through the desert by a pillar of fire in the night, and a cloud in the day.
Exodus 14
31 versesPharao pursueth the children of Israel. They murmur against Moses, but are encouraged by him, and pass through the Red Sea. Pharao and his army following them are drowned.
Exodus 15
27 versesThe canticle of Moses. The bitter waters of Mara are made sweet.
Exodus 16
36 versesThe people murmur for want of meat: God giveth them quails and manna.
Exodus 17
16 versesThe people murmur again for want of drink; the Lord giveth them water out of a rock. Moses lifting up his hand in prayer, Amalec is overcome.
Exodus 18
27 versesJethro bringeth to Moses his wife and children. His counsel.
Exodus 19
25 versesThey come to Sinai: the people are commanded to be sanctified. The Lord, coming in thunder and lightning, speaketh with Moses.
Exodus 20
26 versesThe ten commandments.
Exodus 21
36 versesLaws relating to Justice.
Exodus 22
31 versesThe punishment of theft, and other trespasses. The law of lending without usury, of taking pledges of reverences to superiors, and of paying tithes.
Exodus 23
33 versesLaws for judges; the rest of the seventh year, and day: three principal feasts to be solemnized every year; the promise of an angel, to conduct and protect them: idols are to be destroyed.
Exodus 24
18 versesMoses writeth his law; and after offering sacrifices, sprinkleth the blood of the testament upon the people: then goeth up the mountain which God covereth with a fiery cloud.
Exodus 25
40 versesOfferings prescribed for making the tabernacle, the ark, the candlestick, etc.
Exodus 26
37 versesThe form of the tabernacle with its appurtenances.
Exodus 27
21 versesThe altar; and the court of the tabernacle with its hangings and pillars. Provision of oil for lamps.
Exodus 28
43 versesThe holy vestments for Aaron and his sons.
Exodus 29
46 versesThe manner of consecrating Aaron and other priests; the institution of the daily sacrifice of two lambs, one in the morning, the other at evening.
Exodus 30
38 versesThe altar of incense: money to be gathered for the use of the tabernacle: the brazen laver: the holy oil of unction, and the composition of the perfume.
Exodus 31
18 versesBeseleel and Ooliab are appointed by the Lord to make the tabernacle, and the things belonging thereto. The observation of the sabbath day is again commanded. And the Lord delivereth to Moses two tables written with the finger of God.
Exodus 32
35 versesThe people fall into idolatry. Moses prayeth for them. He breaketh the tables: destroyeth the idol: blameth Aaron, and causeth many of the idolaters to be slain.
Exodus 33
23 versesThe people mourn for their sin. Moses pitcheth the tabernacle without the camp. He converseth familiarly with God. Desireth to see his glory.
Exodus 34
35 versesThe tables are renewed: all society with the Chanaanites is forbid: some precepts concerning the firstborn, the sabbath, and other feasts: after forty days' fast, Moses returneth to the people with the commandments, and his face appearing horned with rays of light, he covereth it, whensoever he speaketh to the people.
Exodus 35
35 versesThe sabbath. Offerings for making the tabernacle. Beseleel and Ooliab are called to the work.
Exodus 36
38 versesThe offerings are delivered to the workmen, the curtains, coverings, boards, bars, veil, pillars, and hanging are made.
Exodus 37
29 versesBeseleel maketh the ark: the propitiatory, and cherubims, the table, the candlestick, the lamps, and the altar of incense, and compoundeth the incense.
Exodus 38
31 versesHe maketh the altar of holocaust. The brazen laver. The court with its pillars and hangings. The sum of what the people offered.
Exodus 39
43 versesAll the ornaments of Aaron and his sons are made. And the whole work of the tabernacle is finished.
Exodus 40
36 versesThe tabernacle is commanded to be set up and anointed. God filleth it with his majesty.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
In the comments
What the saints said.
1 quotation from 1 saint linked to passages of Exodus in Bless. Each names the work it comes from.
St. Teresa of Ávila · on Exodus 33:11
On this theme
Prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.
The Way of Perfection, ch. 26, 1566
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Exodus is read at the principal Mass on 21 days in the US calendar. The next 8 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third Sunday of Lent | First Reading | Exodus 20:1-17 | |
| Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent | First Reading | Exodus 32:7-14 | |
| Holy Thursday — Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper | First Reading | Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 | |
| Holy Saturday — the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter | Third Reading | Exodus 14:15—15:1 | |
| Holy Saturday — the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter | Responsorial Psalm | Exodus 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18 | |
| The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ | First Reading | Exodus 24:3-8 | |
| computed | Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Exodus 1:8-14, 22 |
| computed | Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Exodus 2:1-15a |
| computed | St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin | First Reading | Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12 |
| computed | St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church | First Reading | Exodus 3:13-20 |
| computed | Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Exodus 11:10—12:14 |
| computed | Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Exodus 12:37-42 |
| computed | Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Exodus 14:5-18 |
| computed | Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time | Responsorial Psalm | Exodus 15:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6 |
| computed | Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Exodus 14:21—15:1 |
| computed | Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time | Responsorial Psalm | Exodus 15:8-9, 10 and 12, 17 |
| computed | Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15 |
| computed | Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Exodus 20:1-17 |
| computed | Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Exodus 24:3-8 |
| computed | Sts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary | First Reading | Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34 |
| computed | Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28 |
| computed | Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Exodus 34:29-35 |
| computed | Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus | First Reading | Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38 |
| computed | Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.