Book of Mormon Evidence: The Name Omni

Omni was the son of Jarom, one of the writers and custodians of the small plates of Nephi during their early history (Omni 1:1–3). However, writing in the early 20th century, one commentator claimed there is no evidence that Omni is a genuine ancient name.¹ In more recent years, several scholars have pointed to evidence of the name’s authenticity and likely Hebrew derivation. According to Stephen Ricks, Paul Hoskisson, Robert Smith, and John Gee, the name suggests a meaning centered around concepts of faithfulness or trust.

The personal name Omni is based on the Hebrew root *MN, meaning “to be true, faithful,” as well as “to confirm, support,” and may be linked to the noun form ʾ ōmen, “faithfulness, trust.” The name Omni could be a hypocoristic form of ʾomniyyāhû or ʾomniēl, “faithfulness of [the Lord God,”] with the so-called “hireq compagnis,” or alternatively, “[the Lord/God is] (the object of) my trust,” with omni as an objective genitive (“the object of my trust”) or the substantive ʾōmen with the first common singular pronominal suffix, thus ʾomni, “my faithfulness, trust.”²

According to Winfried Thiel, the biblical names for the Israelite kings Omri and Zimri were likely abbreviated forms of the longer names Omriyahu (“Yahweh is my life” or “The life which Yahweh has given”) and  Zimriyahu (“Yahweh is my protection”).³ Assuming this assessment is correct, the name Omni, by analogy, may be the hypocoristic or abbreviated form of the longer name ʾomniyyāhû. It could mean “‘Yahweh is my faith, Yahweh is (the object of) my faith, trust; (the) trust that Yahweh (has given).’”⁴ 

Omni’s father, Jarom, was a devout man who believed the words of the prophets and had written that “there are many among us who have many revelations, for they are not all stiffnecked. And as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have communion with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men according to their faith” (Jarom 1:4). Moreover, as concluded by Matthew Bowen, “Jarom’s description of Nephite leaders who were ‘mighty men in the faith [ʾĕmûnat] of the Lord [yhwh]’ (Jarom 1:7), if not a description meant to include his son Omni, at least reflects the sentiment and hope embodied in the naming of Omni (‘Faithful one’ or ‘Yahweh is [the object of my] faith’).”⁵ 

Conclusion

Although it has been claimed there is no evidence for the Hebrew origin of the name Omni, the meaning of this name plausibly derives from a Hebrew root relating to faith in the Lord. This evidence is strengthened by Jarom’s approving references to faith among the Nephites, providing a plausible explanation for why Omni was given this name.