Exodus

Old English poem

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June 26, 2026

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The Old English poem Exodus is a significant work within the religious verse tradition of Anglo-Saxon literature. It is part of the Junius Manuscript, which also contains poems based on Old Testament narratives like Genesis and Daniel.1

The poem Exodus is notable for its intricate diction and bold imagery. It retells the biblical story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt under Moses' leadership. This narrative encompasses their escape from Egypt and their journey to Mount Sinai. The poem's themes resonate with the broader biblical narrative of divine promise and deliverance, a central tenet of religious verse from that era.12

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Caedmon manuscript
It contains the poems Genesis, Exodus, Daniel, and Christ and Satan, originally attributed to Caedmon (q.v.) because these subjects correspond roughly to the subjects described in Bede’s Ecclesiastical History as having been rendered by Caedmon into vernacular verse. The whole, called Caedmon’s Paraphrase, was first published in 1655. Later studies…
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It contains the poems Genesis, Exodus, Daniel, and Christ and Satan, originally attributed to Caedmon (q.v.) because these subjects correspond roughly to the subjects described in Bede’s Ecclesiastical History as having been rendered by Caedmon into vernacular verse. The whole, called Caedmon’s Paraphrase, was first published in 1655. Later studies…
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English literature
Religious verse
…the Old Testament narratives Genesis, Exodus, and Daniel. Of these, Exodus is remarkable for its intricate diction and bold imagery. The fragmentary Judith of the Beowulf Manuscript stirringly embellishes the story from the Apocrypha of the heroine who led the Jews to victory over the Assyrians.
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…the Old Testament narratives Genesis, Exodus, and Daniel. Of these, Exodus is remarkable for its intricate diction and bold imagery. The fragmentary Judith of the Beowulf Manuscript stirringly embellishes the story from the Apocrypha of the heroine who led the Jews to victory over the Assyrians.
Read More