Siman 463

(20.) Regarding the well-known controversy in previous generations over the rabbi and sage, our teacher Rabbi Yonasan of blessed memory: before Rabbainu of blessed memory was a book recording the amulets that this rabbi had given. They contained the words עבדו מביח"ו ("His servant, מביח״ו"). His opponents interpreted this as "His servant, his Messiah"; see there. Rabbainu of blessed memory spoke with us about this and said that this was no proof. He said that if he were to write amulets and people found them, they would certainly say, etc., especially concerning "His servant" (meaning that they would certainly interpret his intention unfavorably, especially the word "His servant": how could one write "His servant" among the names? They would therefore certainly interpret his intention as they did). For the entire Torah consists of names. The names used in adjurations, or with which one makes a request and prays "May it be Your will," serve to arouse the angel appropriate to that matter. That name is then given to the angel. For an angel has no name of its own; rather, it is given a name according to its mission, as is explained elsewhere. Thus it is indeed appropriate to write עבדו מביח"ו in adjurations using these names, for it is an acronym of the verse "And Noach found favor in the eyes of Hashem" (ונח מצא חן בעיני ה׳; Genesis 6:8).