In ancient Egypt, a Hebrew baby is set adrift on the Nile to escape infanticide sanctioned by the Pharaoh, who fears the growing number of Israelites. Discovered by Pharaoh's daughter, the child is named Moses and raised as a prince alongside the heir to the throne, Ramses. As young men, they are rivals not only for the throne but also for the love of Nefretiri, the throne princess. Meanwhile, Moses' true heritage is revealed to him by a Hebrew slave, Bithiah, leading him to empathize with the plight of the enslaved Hebrews.

Upon killing an Egyptian overseer for brutalizing a fellow Hebrew, Moses is forced to flee into the desert. There, he finds refuge with the Midianites and marries Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro. His peaceful exile is disrupted by a divine encounter at Mount Sinai, where he is tasked with the monumental duty of freeing his people from the bondage of Egypt. Unbeknownst to him, his life's journey is destined to lead him toward an inevitable confrontation with Ramses, now Pharaoh, which will decide the fate of the Hebrew people.