Moses as ΘΕΡΑΠΩΝ In HEB 3:5-6 : portrait of a cultic prophet-priest in Egypt?

Abstract

The unknown author of Hebrews uses the hapax legomenon θεράπων in his reference to Moses as a “servant” when he contrasts Moses with Jesus in Heb 3:1-6. He states that Moses was faithful as a servant (θεράπων) in God’s house, whereas Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. Why did the author of Hebrews choose this particular term? Through a study of the use of θεράπων in the literature from antiquity – specifically the cultic and prophetic elements associated with the term – it might be concluded that the author of Hebrews deliberately employs this term for Moses in order to depict him as a religious or temple servant, as a priest in the service of Christ, the “Son”.