Acts 9 · Verse 36

Acts 9:36

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

Acts 9:36, King James Version

Acts 9:36 in other translations

BSB	In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.
WEB	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.
ASV	Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
YLT	And in Joppa there was a certain female disciple, by name Tabitha, (which interpreted, is called Dorcas,) this woman was full of good works and kind acts that she was doing;
DARBY	And in Joppa there was a certain female disciple, by name Tabitha, which being interpreted means Dorcas. She was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did.
BBE	Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, that is, Dorcas: this woman was given to good works and acts of mercy at all times.
Webster	Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, who by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did.

What does Acts 9:36 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 9:36-39

36-39. at Joppa--the modern Jaffa, on the Mediterranean, a very ancient city of the Philistines, afterwards and still the seaport of Jerusalem, from which it lies distant forty-five miles to the northwest. Tabitha ... Dorcas--the Syro-Chaldaic and Greek names for an antelope or gazelle, which, from its loveliness, was frequently employed as a proper name for women [Meyer, Olshausen]. Doubtless the interpretation, as here given, is but an echo of the remarks made by the Christians regarding her--how well her character answered to her name. full of good works and alms-deeds--eminent for the activities and generosities of the Christian character.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 36. At Joppa. This was a seaport town, situated on the Mediterranean, in the tribe of Dan, about thirty miles south of Caesarea, and forty-five north-west of Jerusalem. It was the principal seaport of Palestine; and hence, though the harbour was poor, it had considerable celebrity. It was occupied by Solomon to receive the timber brought for the building of the temple from Tyre, 2Chr 2:16 and was used for a similar purpose in the time of Ezra, Ezr 3:7. The present name of the town is Jaffa. It is situated on a promontory, jutting out into the sea, rising to the height of about one hundred and fifty feet above its level, and offering on all sides picturesque and varied prospects. The streets are narrow, uneven, and dirty. The inhabitants are estimated at between four and five thousand, of whom the greater part are Turks and Arabs. The Christians are stated to be about six hundred, consisting of Roman Catholics, Greeks, Maronites, and Arminians. It is several times mentioned in the New Testament, Acts 10:5,23, 11:5.

Tabitha. This word is properly Syriac, and means, literally, the gazelle or antelope. The name became an appellation of a female probably on account of the beauty of its form. "It is not unusual in the East to give the names of beautiful animals to young women." (Clark.) Comp. Song 2:9, 4:5.

Dorcas. A Greek word signifying the same as Tabitha. Our word doe or roe answers to it in signification.

Full of good works. Distinguished far good works. Comp. 1Timm 2:10, Tit 2:7.

And almsdeeds. Acts of kindness to the poor.

(1) "Dorcas" "Doe" or "Roe" (l) "full of good" 1Timm 2:10, Tit 2:7 (%) "almsdeeds" "Alms"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 36 Now there was at Joppa - This was a sea-port town on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, about a day's journey from Jerusalem. It is supposed to be the same which is called in the Old Testament Japho, which belonged to the tribe of Dan, Jos 19:46. It is at present called Jaffa, and is still a place of considerable note. A certain disciple named Tabitha - This word is more properly Syriac than Hebrew. Tebitho is the word in the Syriac version, and is their manner of writing the Hebrew צבי tsebi, the ט teth being changed for the צ tsaddi. The word tabio, and the feminine tabitho, have the same meaning as the Hebrew צבי tsebi and the Greek Δορκας, Dorcas, and signify the gazel or antelope; and it is still customary in the east to give the names of beautiful animals to young women. The comparison of fine eyes to those of the antelope is continually occurring in the writings of the Arabic and Persian poets. The person in the text probably had her name in the same way. She was very beautiful, and was therefore called Tabitha and Dorcas. This woman was full of good works - She spent her life in acts of kindness and charity. Her soul was full of love to God and man; and her whole time was filled up with works of piety and mercy.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 9:36-43

Many are full of good words, who are empty and barren in good works; but Tabitha was a great doer, no great talker. Christians who have not property to give in charity, may yet be able to do acts of charity, working with their hands, or walking with their feet, for the good of others. Those are certainly best praised whose own works praise them, whether the words of others do so or not. But such are ungrateful indeed, who have kindness shown them, and will not acknowledge it, by showing the kindness that is done them. While we live upon the fulness of Christ for our whole salvation, we should desire to be full of good works, for the honour of his name, and for the benefit of his saints. Such characters as Dorcas are useful where they dwell, as showing the excellency of the word of truth by their lives. How mean then the cares of the numerous females who seek no distinction but outward decoration, and who waste their lives in the trifling pursuits of dress and vanity! Power went along with the word, and Dorcas came to life. Thus in the raising of dead souls to spiritual life, the first sign of life is the opening of the eyes of the mind. Here we see that the Lord can make up every loss; that he overrules every event for the good of those who trust in him, and for the glory of his name.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Acts 9:36 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἘνEnInG1722

ἸόππῃIoppēJoppaG2445

δέdenowG1161

τιςtiscertainG5100

ἦνēnthere wasG1510

μαθήτριαmathētriaa discipleG3102

ὀνόματιonomatinamedG3686

Ταβιθά,TabithaTabitha,G5000

ἣhēwhichG3739

διερμηνευομένηdiermēneuomenēbeing translatedG1329

λέγεταιlegetaiis calledG3004

Δορκάς·DorkasDorcas;G1393

αὕτηhautēSheG3778

ἦνēnwasG1510

πλήρηςplērēsfullG4134

ἔργωνergōnof worksG2041

ἀγαθῶνagathōngoodG18

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐλεημοσυνῶνeleēmosunōnof almsG1654

ὧνhōnthatG3739

ἐποίει·epoieishe was doing;G4160

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 9:36

Titus 2:7
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Titus 3:8
This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
2 Chronicles 2:16
And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.
Hebrews 13:21
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Acts 10:31
And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Ezra 3:7
They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
Titus 2:14
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Acts 10:4-5
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
1 Timothy 5:10
Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
Jonah 1:3
But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
John 15:8
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joppa.
10:5; 2Ch 2:16; Ezr 3:7; Jon 1:3
Dorcas. or, Doe or, Roe.
Pr 5:19; So 2:9; 3:5; 8:14
full.
Joh 15:5,8; Eph 2:10; Php 1:11; Col 1:10; 1Th 4:10; 1Ti 2:9,10; 5:10
Tit 2:7,14; 3:8; Heb 13:21; Jas 1:27
almsdeeds.
10:4,31

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 9:35
And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
Acts 9:36
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
Acts 9:37
And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

Read all of Acts 9

Acts 9:36 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Entonces en Joppe había una discípula llamada Tabita, que si lo declaras, quiere decir Dorcas. Esta era llena de buenas obras y de limosnas que hacía.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Or il y avait à Joppé une femme disciple, nommée Tabitha, qui, interprété, signifie Dorcas; elle était pleine de bonnes œuvres et d’aumônes qu’elle faisait.
German Elberfelder 1871	In Joppe aber war eine gewisse Jüngerin, mit Namen Tabitha, was verdolmetscht heißt: Dorkas; diese war voll guter Werke und Almosen, die sie übte.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	In Joppe autem fuit quædam discipula, nomine Tabitha, quæ interpretata dicitur Dorcas. Hæc erat plena operibus bonis et eleemosynis quas faciebat.