Hebrews (e.g., Exodus 1:15): While often used synonymously with "Israelites," in the early chapters of Exodus, it can also carry the connotation of a social or class designation, possibly referring to a broader group of Semitic peoples or those in a specific servile status in Egypt before becoming the distinct nation of Israel.;xNLx;Midwives (e.g., Exodus 1:15): Women who assisted in childbirth. Shiphrah and Puah are notable for their God-fearing actions in sparing Hebrew baby boys.;xNLx;Taskmasters (e.g., Exodus 1:11; 5:6): Officials appointed by Pharaoh to oversee the forced labor of the Israelites, often with cruelty.;xNLx;Foremen (e.g., Exodus 5:14): Israelites who were appointed by the Egyptian taskmasters to be responsible for the work of their fellow Hebrews. They often bore the brunt of punishment if quotas were not met.;xNLx;Levite (e.g., Exodus 2:1; 4:14): A descendant of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Moses and Aaron were Levites. This tribe would later be set apart for priestly and religious duties.;xNLx;Pharaoh (Numerous instances): The title of the ruler of ancient Egypt. The specific Pharaoh of the Exodus is not named in the biblical text.;xNLx;Elders (e.g., Exodus 3:16; 12:21; 17:5): Recognized leaders within the Israelite community, likely heads of prominent families or clans, who represented the people.;xNLx;Magicians/Wise Men/Sorcerers (e.g., Exodus 7:11, 22; 8:7, 18-19; 9:11): Egyptian court advisors and religious practitioners who attempted to replicate the miracles performed by Moses and Aaron, likely through a combination of sleight of hand, occultic practices, or knowledge of natural phenomena. Their inability to match all of God's signs demonstrated Yahweh's superior power.;xNLx;Congregation (e.g., Exodus 12:3, 6, 19, 47; 16:1): The assembly of the Israelite people, often used in contexts of communal worship, legal address, or collective action.;xNLx;Events, Objects, and Practices:;xNLx;;xNLx;Ark (of bulrushes) (Exodus 2:3): The basket made of papyrus reeds and sealed with bitumen and pitch, in which the infant Moses was placed and floated on the Nile. The Hebrew word (tevah) is the same used for Noah's ark.;xNLx;Burning Bush (Exodus 3:2): The phenomenon where God appeared to Moses. The bush was on fire but not consumed, symbolizing God's holy presence and inexhaustible nature.;xNLx;Staff (e.g., Exodus 4:2-4, 17, 20; 7:9-12): A rod or stick, common for shepherds. Moses' and Aaron's staffs became instruments through which God performed miracles, symbolizing divine authority and power.;xNLx;Leprous (Exodus 4:6): Referring to a skin disease. In this context, Moses' hand miraculously becoming "leprous, like snow" and then restored was a sign for the Israelites. Biblical leprosy was a broader term than modern Hansen's disease and often carried connotations of ritual uncleanness.;xNLx;Hardening (Pharaoh's heart) (e.g., Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8): A recurring theme where either God is said to harden Pharaoh's heart, or Pharaoh hardens his own heart. This signifies Pharaoh's increasing stubbornness and resistance to God's commands, ultimately serving God's purpose of demonstrating His power over Egypt.;xNLx;Plagues (Exodus 7-12): The ten divinely sent calamities upon Egypt designed to persuade Pharaoh to release the Israelites and to demonstrate Yahweh's sovereignty over the Egyptian gods.;xNLx;Passover (Exodus 12): The commemorative feast celebrating Israel's deliverance from Egypt, specifically the "passing over" of the angel of death, sparing the firstborn of the Israelites who had applied the blood of a lamb to their doorposts. It is a foundational event and ongoing observance in Judaism.;xNLx;Unleavened Bread (e.g., Exodus 12:8, 15-20; 13:6-7): Bread made without yeast (leaven). The Israelites ate unleavened bread during their hasty departure from Egypt, and it became a central part of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, accompanying Passover, symbolizing purity and remembrance of the Exodus.;xNLx;Firstborn (e.g., Exodus 4:22-23; 11:5; 12:12, 29; 13:2, 12-15): The eldest male offspring. The tenth plague targeted the firstborn of Egypt, and the subsequent consecration (setting apart) of Israel's firstborn to God underscored God's claim on His redeemed people.;xNLx;Consecrate/Consecration (e.g., Exodus 13:2; 19:10, 14, 22-23; 28:3, 41): To set apart as holy for God's service or presence. This could apply to people (like the firstborn or priests), objects, or time.;xNLx;Pillar of Cloud/Fire (e.g., Exodus 13:21-22; 14:19, 24): The visible manifestation of God's presence leading the Israelites through the wilderness – by a cloud during the day and fire at night.;xNLx;Red Sea (e.g., Exodus 13:18; 15:4, 22): The body of water (Hebrew: Yam Suph, often translated "Sea of Reeds") that God miraculously parted for the Israelites to cross and then brought back to destroy the pursuing Egyptian army. Its precise location is debated by scholars.;xNLx;Manna (Exodus 16): The miraculous food ("bread from heaven") that God provided for the Israelites daily during their wilderness wanderings.;xNLx;Sabbath (e.g., Exodus 16:23-30; 20:8-11; 31:13-17): The seventh day, set apart as a day of rest and worship, in commemoration of God resting on the seventh day of creation and as a sign of the covenant.;xNLx;Covenant (e.g., Exodus 2:24; 6:4-5; 19:5; 24:7-8; 31:16; 34:10, 27-28): A solemn, binding agreement. In Exodus, this primarily refers to the Mosaic Covenant established at Mount Sinai between God and Israel, involving laws, promises, and obligations. God also "remembers" His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.;xNLx;Ten Commandments/Decalogue (Exodus 20:1-17; 34:28): The foundational moral and religious laws given by God to Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai, written on two tablets of stone.;xNLx;Altar (e.g., Exodus 17:15; 20:24-26; 27:1-8): A structure on which sacrifices were offered to God.;xNLx;Ordinances/Statutes/Judgments/Commandments/Law (Numerous instances, especially Exodus 21-23, 34-35): Various terms referring to the body of laws and regulations given by God to Israel, covering civil, social, and religious life.;xNLx;Lex Talionis / "Eye for an eye" (Exodus 21:23-25): The principle of retributive justice where the punishment corresponds in kind and degree to the injury or offense. In its ancient Near Eastern context, it was often a limitation on excessive vengeance.;xNLx;Sojourner/Stranger (e.g., Exodus 2:22; 12:48-49; 22:21; 23:9): A person residing in a land who is not a native citizen. The Israelites were commanded to treat sojourners justly, remembering their own experience as sojourners in Egypt.;xNLx;Sacrifice/Offering (Numerous instances, especially related to the Tabernacle and priesthood): Gifts presented to God, often involving the ritual slaughter of animals or the presentation of grain or wine, to atone for sin, express thanksgiving, or consecrate.;xNLx;Burnt Offering (e.g., Exodus 10:25; 18:12; 20:24; 24:5; 29:18, 25, 42): An offering wholly consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication or atonement.;xNLx;Peace Offering (e.g., Exodus 20:24; 24:5; 29:28; 32:6): An offering signifying fellowship and communion with God, part of which was eaten by the offerer and the priests.;xNLx;Sin Offering (e.g., Exodus 29:14, 36; 30:10): An offering made to atone for unintentional sins and to purify from defilement.;xNLx;Tabernacle (Exodus 25-31; 35-40): The portable sanctuary or "dwelling place" for God constructed by the Israelites according to God's detailed instructions, where His presence would dwell among them and where sacrifices and worship would be centered.;xNLx;Most Holy Place / Holy of Holies (e.g., Exodus 26:33-34): The innermost and most sacred chamber of the Tabernacle, containing the Ark of the Covenant, entered only by the High Priest once a year on the Day of Atonement.;xNLx;Ark of the Covenant / Ark of the Testimony (e.g., Exodus 25:10-22; 26:33-34): A sacred chest overlaid with gold, containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments (the "testimony"). It represented God's throne and presence among His people.;xNLx;Mercy Seat / Atonement Cover (Exodus 25:17-22; 26:34; 30:6; 31:7; 35:12; 37:6-9; 39:35; 40:20): The gold lid of the Ark of the Covenant, with two cherubim facing each other. It was the place where God promised to meet with Moses and where atonement was made.;xNLx;Table for the Bread of the Presence (Exodus 25:23-30): A table in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle on which twelve loaves of unleavened bread were kept, symbolizing God's continual provision for Israel.;xNLx;Golden Lampstand / Menorah (Exodus 25:31-40): An ornate, seven-branched lampstand in the Holy Place, providing light and symbolizing God as the light of Israel.;xNLx;Altar of Incense (Exodus 30:1-10): An altar in the Holy Place before the veil to the Most Holy Place, on which incense was burned morning and evening, symbolizing the prayers of the people ascending to God.;xNLx;Bronze Basin / Laver (Exodus 30:17-21): A basin in the Tabernacle courtyard where priests washed their hands and feet before ministering, symbolizing purification.;xNLx;Priest/Priesthood (Exodus 28-29; 30:22-38; 31:10; 35:19; 38:21; 39:1, 41; 40:12-15, 31): Individuals (Aaron and his descendants) set apart and consecrated to minister in the Tabernacle, offer sacrifices, and mediate between God and the people.;xNLx;High Priest (e.g., Exodus 28 implicitly, Leviticus 21:10 explicitly refers to Aaron's unique role): The chief priest, with special garments and responsibilities, including entering the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement.;xNLx;Ephod (Exodus 28:4-14, 25-28; 29:5; 39:2-7): A sleeveless, apron-like garment worn by the High Priest, intricately made, to which the breastpiece was attached.;xNLx;Breastpiece (of judgment) (Exodus 28:15-30; 39:8-21): A sacred pouch worn by the High Priest over the ephod, containing twelve precious stones inscribed with the names of the tribes of Israel, and holding the Urim and Thummim.;xNLx;Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30): Objects placed in the High Priest's breastpiece, used to discern God's will in certain matters. Their exact nature and use are not fully understood.;xNLx;Anointing Oil (Exodus 30:22-33): A specially formulated holy oil used to anoint the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priests, consecrating them for sacred service.;xNLx;Incense (Exodus 30:7-9, 34-38): A mixture of aromatic spices burned on the altar of incense, creating a fragrant smoke symbolizing prayer and worship.;xNLx;Census Tax / Atonement Money (Exodus 30:11-16): A half-shekel tax paid by every adult Israelite male during a census, used for the service of the Tabernacle and considered a ransom for their lives.;xNLx;Idolatry (Exodus 20:3-6, 22-23; 32): The worship of idols or images as representations of God or as other deities, strictly forbidden in the Law. The golden calf incident is a prime example.;xNLx;Steadfast Love (e.g., Exodus 15:13; 20:6; 34:6-7): Hebrew chesed. A key attribute of God, encompassing His loyal love, covenant faithfulness, mercy, and kindness.;xNLx;Glory of the LORD (e.g., Exodus 16:7, 10; 24:16-17; 29:43; 33:18, 22; 40:34-38): The visible manifestation of God's awesome presence, power, and holiness, often depicted as a brilliant light or devouring fire.;xNLx;This list highlights some of the vocabulary in Exodus (ESV) that, when understood in its specific context, can unlock deeper meaning for the reader, illuminating the profound theological and historical narrative of God's redemption and covenant relationship with Israel.