Tabitha

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Tab'itha. (Gazelle). Also called Dorcas by St. Luke, a female disciple of Joppa, "full of good works" among which that of making clothes for the poor is specifically mentioned. While St. Peter was at the neighboring town of Lydda, Tabitha, died; upon which the disciples at Joppa sent an urgent message to the apostle begging him to come to them without delay.

Upon his arrival, Peter found the deceased already prepared for burial, and laid out in an upper chamber, where she was surrounded by the recipients and the tokens of her charity after the example of our Saviour in the house of Jairus,  Matthew 9:25;  Mark 5:40. "Peter put them all forth," prayed for the divine assistance, and then commanded Tabitha to arise. Compare  Mark 5:41;  Luke 8:51. She opened her eyes and sat up, and then, assisted by the apostle, rose from her couch. This great miracle, as we are further told produced an extraordinary effect in Joppa, and was the occasion of many conversions there.  Acts 9:38-42. The name "Tabitha" is an Aramaic word signifying a "Female Gazelle". St. Luke gives "Dorcas" as the Greek equivalent of the name.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Aramaic, corresponding to Hebrew tsebiah , "a female gazelle," Dorcas ( Acts 9:36), the emblem of beauty. The Christian woman at Joppa, "full of good works and alms deeds" (As Making Coats And Garments For Poor Widows, Compare  Job 31:19-20) , who was raised from the dead by Peter's prayer and words under the Spirit, "Tabitha, arise." Many in consequence believed in the Lord. Peter's miraculous cure of Aeneas at Lydda was what led Tabitha's believing friends to send so far, that he should come to them, with the hope of God's power working by him even on the dead. After Christ's example in the case of Jairus' daughter, "Peter put them all forth," and prayed (compare  John 11:41-42), and then when he felt he had obtained his request spoke the word of power, and gave her his hand to lift her up ( Matthew 9:25;  Mark 5:40-41).

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

It should seem that this is rather a Syriac than a Hebrew word, meaning clear-sighted, as some think. We find an honourable widow called by it in the Acts of the apostles, whose death gave occasion for the Holy Ghost by the ministry of the apostle Peter, to manifest his almighty power in raising her again. (See her history,  Acts 9:36, etc.)

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Tabitha (Tab'I-Tha ), Gazette.  Acts 9:36-40. A female disciple at Joppa, called also Dorcas, restored to life in answer to Peter's prayer.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

A disciple at Joppa, who made clothes for the poor and was "full of good works." She was raised to life by Peter.  Acts 9:36-41 . She was also named DORCAS,which is the Greek form of the Syriac Tabitha.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Acts 9:36Dorcas

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Acts 9:36-43

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See Dorcas .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

TABITHA . See Dorcas.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

See Dorcas.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Ταβιθά; Vulg. Tabitha), also called, Dorcas (Δορκάς ), a female disciple of Joppa, "full of good works," among which that of making clothes for the poor is specifically mentioned ( Acts 9:36-42). A.D. 32. While Peter was at the neighboring town of Lydda, Tabitha died, upon which the disciples at Joppa sent an urgent message to the apostle, begging him to come to them without delay. It is not quite evident from the narrative whether they looked for any exercise of miraculous power on his part, or whether they simply' wished for Christian consolation under what they regarded as the common calamity of their Church; but the miracle recently performed on AEneas ( Acts 9:34), and the expression in  Acts 9:38 (διελθεῖν ἕως ἡμῶν ), lead to the former supposition. Upon his arrival Peter found the deceased already prepared for burial, and laid out in an upper chamber, where she was surrounded by the recipients and the tokens of her charity. After the example of our Savior in the house of Jairus ( Matthew 9:25;  Mark 5:40), "Peter put them all forth," prayed for the divine assistance, and then commanded Tabitha to arise (comp.  Mark 5:41;  Luke 8:54). She opened her eyes and sat up, and then, assisted by the apostle, rose from her couch. This great miracle, as we are further told, produced an extraordinary effect in Joppa, and was the occasion of many conversions there ( Acts 9:42). (See Peter).

The name of "Tabitha" (טְבַיתָא ) is the Aramaic form answering to the Hebrew צַבַיָּה, Tsebiyâ H, a "female gazelle," the gazelle being regarded in the East, among both Jews and Arabs, as a standard of beauty indeed, the word צַבַי properly means "beauty." Luke gives "Dorcas" as the Greek equivalent of the name.

Similarly we find δορκάς as the Sept. rendering of צְבַי in  Deuteronomy 12:15;  Deuteronomy 12:22; 2 Samuel 2, 18;  Proverbs 6:5. It has been inferred from the occurrence of the two names that Tabitha was a Hellenist (see Whitby, Ad Loc.). This, however; does not follow, even if we suppose that the two names were actually borne by her, as it would seem to have been the practice even of the Hebrew Jews at this period to have a Gentile name in addition to their Jewish name. But it is by no means clear from the language of Luke that Tabitha actually bore the name of Dorcas. All he tells us is that the name of Tabitha means gazelle" (δορκάς ), and for the benefit of his Gentile readers he afterwards speaks of her by the Greek equivalent. At the same time it is very possible that she may have been known by both names; and we learn from Josephus (War, 4:3, 5) that the name of Dorcas was not unknown in Palestine. Among the Greeks also, as we gather from Lucretius (4, 1154), it was a term of endearment. Other examples, of the use of the name will be found in Wettstein, ad lo., (See Dorcas).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Tabi´tha (antelope), the Aramaean name of a Christian female, called in Greek Dorcas, resident at Joppa, whose benevolent and liberal conduct, especially in providing the poor with clothing, so endeared her to the Church in that place, that on her death they sent for Peter, then six miles off at Lydda, imploring him to come to them. The apostle complied with their urgent request, and after fervent prayer to God, bade the dead arise; on which Tabitha 'opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.' This great miracle was not only an act of benevolence, but tended to give authority to the teaching of the Apostles, and to secure attention for the doctrines which they promulgated (see ).