Acts 9:36

Ἰόππη, on the spelling, Winer-Schmiedel, p. 56; and below on Acts 9:43. μαθήτρια : only here in N.T.: the word occurs in the Apocryphal Gospel of Peter : Mary Magdalene is described as μ. τοῦ Κυρίου : it is also used by Diod., ii., 52; Diog. Laert., iv., 2; viii., 2. The form μαθητρίς is found in Philo. Ταβιθά, see critical notes. טְבִיתָא, Aramaic, = צְבִי, Hebrew (1) splendour, beauty; (2) Greek Δορκάς, specially prized by the Orientals for its elegance, Song of Solomon 2:9, so called from the large bright eyes of the animal (δέρκομαι). The name was found as a feminine name amongst both Greek and Jews, see instances in Wetstein (e.g., Jos., B. J., iv., 3, 5), Plumptre, Wendt, seventh edition, sub v., and more recently Deissmann, Neue Bibelstudien, p. 17. This Greek equivalent (found several times in LXX) may not have been actually borne by Tabitha as a name, for St. Luke may only mean to interpret the Aramaic word for his Gentile readers; but she may have been known by both names. Like Æneas, she may have been an Hellenist. There is nothing to indicate that she should be called a deaconess, nor can we tell from the narrative what was the state of this true Sister of Charity, whether she was a widow, whether married or unmarried (Weiss); see further, “Dorcas,” Hastings' B.D., and Edersheim, Jewish Social Life, p. 78. On the phrase here see Winer-Schmiedel, p. 232. ἐλεημοσυνῶν in singular, Acts 3:2; in plural Acts 10:2, as here; “species post genus ut, 41,” Blass, but by the former term also ἀγαθ. ἔργων works of charity may be more especially intended; see Weber, Jüdische Theol., p. 284 (1897); cf. Sir 20:16, τὰ ἀγαθά μου (and Acts 18:15; Tob 12:13); “Dorcas” and “Almsgiving,” Hastings' B.D. ὧν, see on Acts 1:1.