Genesis 17:14 Meaning and Explanation
“And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Failure to circumcise results in expulsion from the covenant community; it constitutes breaking the covenant.
The Context of Genesis 17:14
Refusing circumcision means breaking the covenant and being cut off from the community.
What Does Genesis 17:14 Mean?
The consequence of refusing circumcision is severe: cut off from his people. This means exclusion from the covenant community, loss of belonging and inheritance rights, and separation from God's people. The uncircumcised male who deliberately avoids the covenant sign separates himself from the corporate body of Abraham's descendants. The punishment reflects the seriousness of the covenant obligation.
Breaking the covenant is not a minor infraction but a fundamental rejection of the relationship God has established. The phrase he hath broken my covenant assigns personal responsibility—the individual chooses rejection by refusing the sign. This establishes covenant breach as a serious offense with communal and spiritual consequences.
Genesis 17:14 in the Original Language
karat (כָּרַת), 'cut off' — to be severed or excluded; can mean death but often means expulsion or separation from the community.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 17:14
What does Genesis 17:14 mean?
Failure to circumcise results in expulsion from the covenant community; it constitutes breaking the covenant.
What is the context of Genesis 17:14?
Refusing circumcision means breaking the covenant and being cut off from the community.