Real Bible Translation

And within Beautiful ("Joppa") a certain one was being a learner, by a name Roe-Deer ("Tabitha") who is she who is being translated/expounded, she is being called Bright-Eyed One ("Dorkas"),⁴³ she, herself was being one filled satisfied of good works and charities, those whom she kept making.

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And in Joppa was a certain disciple by name Tabitha, which interpreted is called Dorcas: she was full of good works and alms which she did.

LITV Translation:
And in Joppa was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which translated is called Dorcas Gazelle . She was full of good works and of alms which she did.

Footnotes

The name Δορκάς (“roe-deer, gazelle”) is traditionally derived from δέρκομαι, highlighting the animal’s large, bright eyes and acute vigilance, illustrating a common Greek practice of naming animals by distinctive physical traits.

The Greek verb δέρκομαι (perf. δέδορκα) means “to see clearly, perceive with the eyes, look intently.” It is a deponent verb used throughout classical literature to emphasize active perception or keen sight, often with a nuance of careful observation or scrutiny. Examples:

Homeric: δέδορκεν ἄρα Ἀχιλλεύς — “Achilles saw clearly” (Il. 1.83).
Hellenistic / Historiographical: Herodotus, Xenophon — used to describe animals or humans perceiving sharply (e.g., a Δορκάς noted for its bright, alert eyes).
Figurative usage: δέρκομαι can convey mental or spiritual insight, not merely physical sight (e.g., Plutarch, Aristophanes).

The perfect form δέδορκα emphasizes completion or certainty of perception, often translated as “I have clearly seen” or “I have perceived fully.”