Isaiah 52:1-2

1, 2. Put on… strength Not splendour, (Gesenius,) but “strength,” imparted through conscious union with Jehovah.

Beautiful garments Rather, garments of beauty, giving the prominence really due to the latter noun, itself alone expressing the intended chief thought, which is holy character; “garments” being the embellishments with which the character is set off. Such character the people of Jerusalem are assumed now to possess, and to have no further association with the uncircumcised and the unclean, who have already had too much to do with defiling the purity of Israel.

Shake… from the dust A contrast is here intended with the description of Isaiah 47:1. Zion has long been a captive seated on the ground, clothed with sackcloth, and dust on her head; but she is now bidden to shake off the dust of her captivity, and to stand or sit in her complete freedom.

Bands of thy neck The Hebrew text is expressive:

Loosed are the bands, or chains, which held thee in slavery; arise, and be at energetic work.