For, behold, today I have given you as a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against her rulers, against her priests, and to the people of the land.
But you are “an elect race,” “a royal priesthood,” “a holy nation,” “a people for possession,” so that “you may proclaim the excellencies” of the One who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; LXX-Ex. 23:22; MT-Ex. 19:5, 6