And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text emphasizes the "men" who walked, explicitly excluding women and children, highlighting the immense scale of this male workforce as the vanguard of this new nation. This detail underscores that the number represents not the entire population, but those deemed capable of marching and contributing to the formation of a new society.
And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Right after the final, devastating plague—the death of Egypt's firstborn—Pharaoh finally releases the Israelites. This verse marks their immediate departure from Rameses, a city in Goshen, to a place called Succoth, where they would first set up tents. The sheer scale of this exodus is highlighted by the staggering number of men, not including women and children, signaling the beginning of their 40 years in the wilderness.
Imagine packing up your entire life, not just your belongings, but millions of people, and moving. Where did this epic journey start, and what was its first stop?
The exodus began with the Israelites marching from Rameses to Succoth. Rameses was likely a key city or region in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites had settled and multiplied. The name 'Rameses' itself points to a significant Egyptian city, possibly associated with the pharaohs. Their first destination was Succoth, a name that means 'booths' or 'tents.' This suggests their initial encampment was temporary, a place where they set up shelters rather than permanent homes. It marks the very first step of their departure, a move from a place of settled (though enslaved) life to the wilderness, the beginning of their journey to freedom.
The Bible gives a staggering number for the men who left Egypt. What does this number truly represent, and what challenges does it present?
Exodus 12:37 states 'about six hundred thousand men on foot.' This isn't just a headcount; it refers to able-bodied men, likely between 20 and 60 years old, capable of going to war. The phrase 'about' suggests this is an approximation, not an exact census. When you add the women, children, and elderly, the total population could have easily reached over two million souls! The sheer scale of this number has led to much discussion. While some scholars suggest it might be a symbolic representation of God's abundant blessing and multiplication of His people, others see it as a testament to God's miraculous power to sustain such a multitude in the wilderness. Regardless of how we interpret the exact figure, it underscores the immense power of God in delivering and preserving His people.
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Understand the original words
nasa' · Hebrew Verb
To depart from a place; in the biblical context, it often refers to a significant movement initiated by God for deliverance or judgment.
This verse marks the very beginning of the Israelites' physical departure from Egypt, a momentous event occurring after centuries of growth and oppression. The sheer number of people, estimated at over two million souls, highlights the miraculous nature of God's preservation and promises, setting the stage for their forty years of wilderness wandering.
c. 1800s BC
Jacob and Family Enter Egypt
Jacob and his family, numbering around 70 people, move to Egypt due to a famine, settling in the land of Goshen.
c. 1800s - 1400s BC
Israelite Sojourn and Growth
Over centuries, the Israelites multiply significantly in Goshen, becoming a large population while under Egyptian rule.
c. 1440s BC
The Ten Plagues
God sends ten devastating plagues upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, culminating in the death of the firstborn.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Exodus from Egypt
Following the final plague, Pharaoh releases the Israelites, who, numbering around 600,000 men plus women and children, depart from Egypt.
c. 1446 BC
Journey to Succoth
The Israelites travel from Rameses (likely in Goshen) to Succoth, their first encampment after leaving Egypt, signified by the pitching of tents.
c. 1446 BC
Crossing the Red Sea
After a short period, Pharaoh pursues them. God miraculously parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross, but drowning the pursuing Egyptian army.
c. 1446 BC
Wilderness Wanderings Begin
The Israelites begin their journey through the Sinai wilderness, receiving God's provision and laws.
This passage provides the specific census number of 603,550 men, twenty years old and upward, who were able to go to war, directly supporting and detailing the 'about six hundred thousand' mentioned here.
Psalm 105:37This Psalm recounts the Exodus, stating that 'He brought them out with silver and gold, and there was not a weak man among his tribes,' which echoes the large number of healthy men and the prosperity suggested by the 'spoiling of the Egyptians' that enabled such a departure.
Nehemiah 13:3This verse mentions a 'mixed multitude' being separated from the Israelites, mirroring the 'mixed multitude' that left Egypt with them in Exodus 12:38, highlighting that not everyone departing was of pure Israelite lineage.
Galatians 3:17Paul connects the 430 years of sojourning in Egypt, which concludes with this departure, to the timeline of God's covenant with Abraham, showing the long-awaited fulfillment of promises tied to this mass exodus.
Matthew 2:13-15This passage describes the 'flight into Egypt' and subsequent return, showing a parallel narrative of God leading His people out of Egypt and into a new land, though in reverse and with a different divine purpose.
gillExodus 12:37: "And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children."
And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth,.... Rameses was a place in Goshen, or rather the land of Goshen, from whence the country was so called; See Gill on Genesis 47:11 . The Targum of Jonathan takes it to be Pelusium, or Sin, now called Tinah, formerly the strength of Egypt, and which lay at the entrance of it, and says it was o…
cambridgeExodus 12:37: "And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children."
37 . journeyed ] lit. plucked up (viz. tent-pegs), a metaphor from breaking up camp. So regularly, as Exodus 13:20 , Exodus 16:1 , &c. Ra‘meses ] Very possibly (p. 4) Tell er-Reṭâbeh, 10 m. W. of Succoth. Succoth ] No doubt the Eg. Thke , with the determinative of a foreign place, prob. (Griffith) a foreign name, the sing. of Succoth , ‘Booths,’ and to…
The text emphasizes the "men" who walked, explicitly excluding women and children, highlighting the immense scale of this male workforce as the vanguard of this new nation. This detail underscores that the number represents not the entire population, but those deemed capable of marching and contributing to the formation of a new society.
Right after the final, devastating plague—the death of Egypt's firstborn—Pharaoh finally releases the Israelites. This verse marks their immediate departure from Rameses, a city in Goshen, to a place called Succoth, where they would first set up tents. The sheer scale of this exodus is highlighted by the staggering number of men, not including women and children, signaling the beginning of their 40 years in the wilderness.
Right after the final, devastating plague—the death of Egypt's firstborn—Pharaoh finally releases the Israelites. This verse marks their immediate departure from Rameses, a city in Goshen, to a place called Succoth, where they would first set up tents. The sheer scale of this exodus is highlighted by the staggering number of men, not including women and children, signaling the beginning of their 40 years in the wilderness.
"And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children." — The text emphasizes the "men" who walked, explicitly excluding women and children, highlighting the immense scale of this male workforce as the vanguard of this new nation. This detail underscores th…
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Last reviewed October 2026