Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online

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Tabitha
(1,598 words)

Tabitha is the name of a disciple who, according to Acts 9:36–43, is a central figure of the Christian community in the seaport town Joppa and is risen from death by Peter. The name is Aramaic (טְבִיתָא/eḇîṯâ or טַבְיְתָא/ṭaḇyeṯâ) and is given in Acts 9:36, 39 in Greek as Δόrkaς (“gazelle”).

While the Greek name Δόrkaς is biblically encountered only in this passage, it is occasionally documented in non-biblical sources (e.g. Jos. Bel. 4.145). The Hebrew form of the name צִבְ…

Cite this page
Bieberstein, Sabine, “Tabitha”, in: Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online, General Editor David G. Hunter, Paul J.J. van Geest, Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte. Consulted online on 03 June 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2589-7993_EECO_SIM_00003332>
First published online: 2018



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