And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. Will I judge - Κρινω εγω, I will punish, for in this sense the Greek word is frequently taken. "When," says Bp. Pearce, "a malefactor is brought before a judge, the judge does three things:
1. he tries or judges him;
2. he then gives his judgment or sentence; and,
3. he puts the law in execution, and punishes him.
Hence κρινω, at different times, signifies each of these things; and the sense of the word is to be determined by the context. Here it signifies to punish, as κριμα is used for punishment, in Romans 13:2; 1 Corinthians 11:29, compared with 1 Corinthians 11:30, 1 Corinthians 11:31." The Egyptians, to whom the Israelites were in bondage, were punished by the ten plagues, described Exodus 7:19-12.