The Etymology of Exodus
In the Greek theatre, an 'exodos' was the final scene — the moment when the chorus departed the stage. When scholars in Alexandria translated the Hebrew Bible into Greek around 250 BCE, they chose this same word as the title for the book describing the Israelites' departure from Egypt. The compound is transparent: 'ex-' (out) + 'hodos' (way, path). Greek 'hodos' is hidden in a surprising number of English words: 'method' (a path of pursuit), 'period' (a going around), 'episode' (a coming in upon the action), 'synod' (a coming together), and 'odometer' (path-measurer). The secular use of 'exodus' for any mass departure emerged in the 17th century.