What does exilic mean?
Exilic is an adjective meaning of, relating to, or characteristic of exile. Its most established use is in biblical and historical scholarship, where the 'exilic period' refers to the decades in the sixth century BCE when many Jews were deported to Babylonia following the destruction of Jerusalem, an era that profoundly shaped Hebrew scripture and religious thought. More broadly, the word can describe anything marked by the conditions or mood of exile — displacement, loss of homeland, and longing for return. Exilic carries a somber, reflective connotation and appears almost exclusively in formal writing: academic literature, historical analysis, and literary criticism. It derives from 'exile', which traces back through Old French and Latin to the Greek 'exelia'. Though uncommon in everyday speech, it is a precise and evocative term for writers discussing displaced communities, diaspora experience, or literature born of banishment.
adjectiveOf, relating to, or characteristic of exile, especially the period that the Jewish people spent in exile in Babylonia in the 6th century BCE.
- Relating to or characteristic of exile, especially the Babylonian exile of the Jewish people in the 6th century BCE.
"Many scholars believe the exilic period produced some of the most poignant poetry in the Hebrew Bible."
"The exilic prophet known as Second Isaiah offered comfort to a community in captivity."
"Her memoir captures an exilic longing for a homeland she had never truly left."
A word born from one of history's great upheavals: 'exilic' is the adjective scholars reach for when describing the decades Jews spent captive in Babylon — and the literature that captivity inspired.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exilic
Exilic derives from 'exile', which entered English via Old French 'exil' from the Latin 'exilium', meaning banishment. The Latin term itself is often connected to the Greek 'exelia'. The adjectival form developed in English scholarly usage, particularly in nineteenth-century biblical criticism, to describe texts and traditions associated with the Babylonian exile.
Related word forms
How exilic is actually used
Formal and scholarly in register; most frequently encountered in biblical studies, historical scholarship about ancient Israel, and literary criticism. Outside academic contexts it is rare, though it can be used more broadly for anything evocative of exile.
Easily confused with exilic
'Exilic' relates to exile or banishment, while 'exotic' means strikingly unusual or foreign in origin.