"Cut off" in the Book of Mormon

We have discussed certain signature phrases that appear multiple times in the Book of Mormon before. Another one of those is the term, "cut off". It is a very common term both in the Old Testament and in the Book of Mormon, but not so much in the New Testament. It also seems to be used slightly differently in the Old Testament and in the Book of Mormon. In some passages, it has a literal meaning in English. For instance, one of the few uses in the New Testament, is when Peter cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant. This is not the meaning we will discuss here.

The Old Testament

The Hebrew word, "karet", is typically translated into "cut off". A common use is "cut off from the people", which often is the consequence of offences against the law of Moses. This article describes some of these. But there seems to be some uncertainty about what exactly "karet" means. What did/does it really mean in practice to be "cut off from the people"? Perhaps the Book of Mormon can give some clues.

The Book of Mormon

The expression, "cut off" is used a lot in the Book of Mormon, but usually not in the context of being "cut off from the people". A common use is one contained in the proverb discussed recently: Cut off from the Lord's presence. Alma 42 uses this expression a lot and can help us understand it better. Verses 6-9:

6 But behold, it was appointed unto man to die—therefore, as they were cut off from the tree of life they should be cut off from the face of the earth—and man became lost forever, yea, they became fallen man.

7 And now, ye see by this that our first parents were cut off both temporally and spiritually from the presence of the Lord; and thus we see they became subjects to follow after their own will.

8 Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness.

9 Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the fall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a temporal, that is, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord, it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death.

So "cut off", is a way to describe death, either physical or spiritual. "cut off from the presence of the Lord", which is the most common use in the Book of Mormon, is spiritual death. So what is the difference between "cut off from His presence" in the Book of Mormon and "cut off from the people" in the Old Testament? Perhaps not much. 3 Nephi 21 gives us a clue. It quotes and paraphrases from the Old Testament and uses the Old Testament phrase, "cut off from the people" twice
In verse 11

they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant.

and in verse 20

whosoever will not repent and come unto my Beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel

This indicates that "the people" in "cut off from my people" in the Old Testament is referring to the House of Israel, the covenant people. Thus, being cut off from them is being cut off from the covenant. This is the equivalent of spiritual death or being cut off from the Lord's presence.