Genesis 17:14

shall be cut off The penalty of being "cut off" is frequently mentioned in P. It does not appear certain, (1) whether the penalty is to be inflicted by God or by man; (2) whether, if it be the infliction of a judicial punishment by man, it denotes capital punishment, or expulsion from the ranks of the community. The formula has probably been transmitted from a very early period; and the lapse of time led to change in practice. Thus, in Exodus 31:13-14, the penalty of death is inflicted by the people: see Numbers 15:32-36. But, in Leviticus 17:10; Leviticus 20:3, the sentence is pronounced by God, "I will cut him off."

from his people Lit. "from his peoples," a phrase used by P, which seems to denote "father's kin," and evidently possessed a special technical meaning of clanship. See note on Genesis 25:8.