Biblical Occurrences

Luke 9:31; Hebrews 11:22; 2 Peter 1:15

Conceptual Range

While the Old Testament book of Exodus recounts Israel’s liberation from Egypt, the New Testament adopts the same term to describe pivotal “departures” that advance salvation history. Each usage carries covenantal weight, linking personal or collective transitions to God’s redemptive purpose.

Luke 9:31 — The Messiah’s Redemptive Departure

At the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah “appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31).
• Moses embodies the first exodus; Elijah represents prophetic expectation. Their conversation with Jesus unites Law and Prophets, signaling that the cross-resurrection event is the climactic exodus.
• “Accomplish” underscores intentional, victorious completion—not passive suffering.
• Jerusalem, the place of sacrifice, becomes the launching point for universal deliverance. Believers therefore view Calvary as the definitive liberation from sin and death.

Hebrews 11:22 — The Nation’s Anticipated Exodus

“By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones” (Hebrews 11:22).
• Joseph’s faith reaches beyond his Egyptian success to God’s covenant promise. His insistence on burial in Canaan ties personal hope to national destiny.
• The verse frames the Sinai exodus as a settled certainty centuries before it occurs, highlighting the reliability of God’s word.
• For the Church, Joseph models eschatological faith—trusting future deliverance despite present comfort or adversity.

2 Peter 1:15 — The Apostle’s Imminent Departure

“And I will make every effort to ensure that after my departure, you will be able to recall these things at all times” (2 Peter 1:15).
• Peter likens his impending martyrdom to an exodus, viewing death as a passage into God’s presence rather than an end.
• His pastoral concern centers on the permanence of apostolic teaching; the Church’s continuity depends on remembering revealed truth.
• The verse commends intentional preparation for future generations, encouraging believers to steward doctrine faithfully.

Typological Threads

1. Deliverance: Each usage presupposes bondage—whether Egyptian slavery, sin’s dominion, or mortal limitation—and points to God-given release.
2. Covenant Fulfillment: The term knits together Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New Covenants, underscoring a single redemptive storyline.
3. Pilgrimage Motif: Exodos implies movement toward promised realities—Canaan, resurrection life, or eternal glory.

Christological Fulfillment

Jesus embodies the perfect Israel (Matthew 2:15) and leads the ultimate exodus through His death and resurrection. The synoptic context of Luke 9 places this within divine glory, affirming both His deity and His substitutionary role.

Pastoral and Devotional Implications

• Believers face death not as termination but as personal exodus (Philippians 1:23).
• Leaders are urged to leave enduring testimony, mirroring Peter’s diligence.
• Worship celebrates freedom obtained at Calvary, mirroring Israel’s song after the Red Sea (Exodus 15; Revelation 15:3).

Eschatological Resonance

The final gathering of the saints (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) can be viewed as a cosmic exodus—the ultimate departure from a fallen creation into the new heavens and new earth.

Historical and Liturgical Usage

Early Christian writers (e.g., Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus) employed ἐξόδος to describe martyrdom, reflecting continuity with Peter’s usage. Paschal liturgies adopted exodus imagery to interpret Christ’s passion, reinforcing the link between Passover and the Lord’s Supper.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1841 spotlights God’s pattern of decisive, saving departures—from Egypt, from sin’s curse, and ultimately from this mortal age. Whether applied to Jesus, Israel, or individual believers, ἐξόδος proclaims the faithfulness of the God who leads His people out to bring them in.