Pronunciation: HOH-nee
The Meaning of the Name
Honi means “the wealth of substance” (Strong’s #1952 and #202).
His Family
Honi was the father of Elizabeth, who became the mother of John the Baptist — making Honi John’s own grandfather (I Achee 6:105).
A Circle Drawer
Honi was a circle drawer — one who could call forth rain through the same tradition described on the Water Tablet. This has a genuine historical echo: Robert Eisenman’s James the Brother of Jesus discusses Honi the Circle Drawer as a rainmaker of the early church’s era.
His Gift to the Church
After a period spent in hiding at Bethpeor, Honi gave his property at Secacah — an orchard and dwelling — to the Church (I Achee 6:105). This has a real archaeological echo: an ostracon found at Qumran records a man named Honi bestowing property, including an orchard, to a group called the yahad. (Source: Jewish Virtual Library, “Qumran”)
Where to Read
- I Achee 6:105 (p. 241)