Meaning of the Name Tabitha
The Aramaic name Tabitha means 'gazelle'; Acts 9:36 gives it together with its Greek equivalent, Dorcas, which also means 'gazelle'.
Origin
The name Tabitha is of Aramaic origin.
Who is Tabitha in the Bible?
Tabitha is a disciple in Joppa of whom it is said, 'This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did'; she clothes the widows especially with the garments she sewed. At her death Peter is summoned and she is raised; as the news spreads, many come to believe.
The story of Tabitha in the Bible
Tabitha appears in only a handful of verses in Acts, yet those verses paint an unforgettable portrait. A disciple living in Joppa — Dorcas in Greek, both names meaning gazelle — she is known for doing good and caring for the poor, especially clothing widows with the garments she sews. One day she falls ill and dies; her body is washed and laid in an upstairs room. Two men are sent to Peter, who is in nearby Lydda, urging him to come without delay. When Peter arrives, the widows surround him weeping, showing him the clothes Tabitha had made — the most tangible witnesses of a life. Peter sends everyone out, kneels to pray, then speaks to the dead woman, telling her to get up. She opens her eyes, sees Peter, and sits up; he takes her by the hand, raises her, and presents her alive to the believers and the widows. The news spreads through all Joppa, and many come to faith in the Lord. Tabitha remains one of Scripture's most moving examples of quiet service.
Is Tabitha mentioned in the Quran?
The name Tabitha does not appear in the Quran; in the Bible she is remembered in the book of Acts as the kindhearted disciple in Joppa who was raised to life through Peter.
Verses where Tabitha appears
- Acts 9:36-42 —
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did. In those days, she fell sick, and died. When they had…