On the “epiphany” in Genesis 18:13

(יג) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֑ם לָ֣מָּה זֶּה֩ צָחֲקָ֨ה שָׂרָ֜ה לֵאמֹ֗ר הַאַ֥ף אֻמְנָ֛ם אֵלֵ֖ד וַאֲנִ֥י זָקַֽנְתִּי׃

Then GOD* said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I in truth bear a child, old as I am?’

*This label may refer to one of the visitors, as speaking on GOD’s behalf.

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


Here the participant reference (the name “GOD”) is probably not meant to be taken literally. Rather, the narrator seems to be employing a linguistic device that I call agency metonymy. On this device, see my comment at 17:22.