On the “epiphany” in Genesis 31:3

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֔ב שׁ֛וּב אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ אֲבוֹתֶ֖יךָ וּלְמוֹלַדְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאֶֽהְיֶ֖ה עִמָּֽךְ׃

Then GOD* said to Jacob, “Return to your ancestors’ land—where you were born—and I will be with you.”

*This label can refer to an angel, as speaking on God’s behalf; cf. v. 11, Kimhi.

(The above rendering—and footnote—come from the RJPS translation, an adaptation of the NJPS translation.)


On the implication that the depicted communication occurs via an intermediary (an angel), see my comment at 17:22, as well as the verse cited in the footnote here.