---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Luther describes how backbiters are like…"
description: "\"“Luther describes how backbiters are like hyenas or dogs who dig up stinking human corpses, pullulating with decay and full of worms, and bite into the..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/lyndal-roper-86783_backbiters_luther-describes-how-backbiters-are-like_629690.jpg"
---

#  Luther describes how backbiters are like hyenas or dogs…

![“Luther describes how backbiters are like hyenas or dogs who dig up stinking human corpses, pullulating with decay and full of worms, and bite into them—“Ugh, what a dreadful monster the backbiter is!” quote by Lyndal Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/lyndal-roper-86783_backbiters_luther-describes-how-backbiters-are-like_629690.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/lyndal-roper-86783_backbiters_luther-describes-how-backbiters-are-like_629690.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/lyndal-roper-86783_backbiters_luther-describes-how-backbiters-are-like_629690.jpg)

> ““Luther describes how backbiters are like hyenas or dogs who dig up stinking human corpses, pullulating with decay and full of worms, and bite into them—“Ugh, what a dreadful monster the backbiter is!””

[Lyndal Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndal-roper/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Backbiters are likened to scavenging animals feasting on decay, a repulsive metaphor.

**In simple terms:** Backbiters are compared to filthy scavengers.

Key Takeaway

Beware of gossip and slander.

Themes

gossip slander morality social decay

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

advice literary

When to use this quote

- workplace culture
- online communities
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

psychology of rumor ethical behavior

Questions to Reflect On

- When is criticism constructive?
- How can you confront backbiting?

A Different Perspective

Not all criticism is malicious; context matters.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Backbiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backbiter-2954175/) [Backbiters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backbiters-13867/) [Backbiters Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backbiters-like-5078379/) [Describes Backbiters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/describes-backbiters-5078377/) [Monster Backbiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monster-backbiter-5078378/)

## Related quotes

> [Ah... Much better" he said. "Backbiter, Luke called it. An appropriate name. Now that it is reforged comeplately, it shall indeed bite back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/ah-much-better-he-said-backbiter-luke-called-it-an-appropriate-name/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“When someone tells us of an unfavorable opinion about ourselves, instead of being distressed, we should think of all the “evil” we have spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-m-cioran/when-someone-tells-us-of-an-unfavorable-opinion-about-ourselves/)

[Emil M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-m-cioran/)

> [“Be worried if you always flock in the company of people who peel off other people's skins with their teeth in their absence. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/be-worried-if-you-always-flock-in-the-company-of-people-who-peel-off/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“The mission or ministry of backbiters is to bite you at the back. When they backbite you, move forward. If you turn back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/the-mission-or-ministry-of-backbiters-is-to-bite-you-at-the-back-when/)

[Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/)

> [It is wicked and coward to talk and judge an absent person without reflecting to ones self his/her actions. It is for the ignorant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayse-lee/it-is-wicked-and-coward-to-talk-and-judge-an-absent-person-without/)

[Jayse\_lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayse-lee/)

> [“ROM1.30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  ROM1.31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rom1-30-backbiters-haters-of-god-despiteful-proud-boasters-inventors/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Were there no hearers, there would be no backbiters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/were-there-no-hearers-there-would-be-no-backbiters/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [In friendship, you don't just get information to one then relay it to the other, its disloyalty. You show concern to one yet you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayse-lee/in-friendship-you-don-t-just-get-information-to-one-then-relay-it-to/)

[Jayse\_lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayse-lee/)

> [“At the bottom of the mountain you have your scoffers and doubters, by midpoint you have your envious and haters, and when you reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/at-the-bottom-of-the-mountain-you-have-your-scoffers-and-doubters-by/)

[Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/)

## More by Lyndal Roper

> [“Unlike other reformers, Luther rarely claimed divine inspiration for his ideas. It is interesting too that he uses the word Kunst—art—for it suggests that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndal-roper/unlike-other-reformers-luther-rarely-claimed-divine-inspiration-for/)

[Lyndal Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndal-roper/)

> [“The Gotha sermon takes us closer than any other testimony to the religious despair and overwhelming sinfulness that Luther felt as a monk. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndal-roper/the-gotha-sermon-takes-us-closer-than-any-other-testimony-to-the/)

[Lyndal Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndal-roper/)

[Explore all 3 Lyndal Roper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndal-roper/)

## More Backbiters quotes

> [“Be worried if you always flock in the company of people who peel off other people's skins with their teeth in their absence. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/be-worried-if-you-always-flock-in-the-company-of-people-who-peel-off/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“The mission or ministry of backbiters is to bite you at the back. When they backbite you, move forward. If you turn back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/the-mission-or-ministry-of-backbiters-is-to-bite-you-at-the-back-when/)

[Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/)

> [It is wicked and coward to talk and judge an absent person without reflecting to ones self his/her actions. It is for the ignorant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayse-lee/it-is-wicked-and-coward-to-talk-and-judge-an-absent-person-without/)

[Jayse\_lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayse-lee/)

> [“ROM1.30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  ROM1.31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rom1-30-backbiters-haters-of-god-despiteful-proud-boasters-inventors/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Were there no hearers, there would be no backbiters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/were-there-no-hearers-there-would-be-no-backbiters/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [In friendship, you don't just get information to one then relay it to the other, its disloyalty. You show concern to one yet you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayse-lee/in-friendship-you-don-t-just-get-information-to-one-then-relay-it-to/)

[Jayse\_lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayse-lee/)

> [“At the bottom of the mountain you have your scoffers and doubters, by midpoint you have your envious and haters, and when you reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/at-the-bottom-of-the-mountain-you-have-your-scoffers-and-doubters-by/)

[Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/)

[Browse all 8 Backbiters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backbiters-13867/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Luther describes how backbiters are like hyenas or dogs who dig up stinking human corpses, pullulating with decay and full of worms, and bite into them—“Ugh, what a dreadful monster the backbiter is!”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lyndal Roper"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndal-roper/luther-describes-how-backbiters-are-like-hyenas-or-dogs-who-dig-up/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Backbiters"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndal-roper/luther-describes-how-backbiters-are-like-hyenas-or-dogs-who-dig-up/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/lyndal-roper-86783_backbiters_luther-describes-how-backbiters-are-like_629690.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/lyndal-roper-86783_backbiters_luther-describes-how-backbiters-are-like_629690.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/lyndal-roper-86783_backbiters_luther-describes-how-backbiters-are-like_629690.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Luther describes how backbiters are like hyenas or dogs who dig up stinking human corpses, pullulating with…” — Lyndal Roper",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Lyndal Roper",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndal-roper/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Luther describes how backbiters are like...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndal-roper/luther-describes-how-backbiters-are-like-hyenas-or-dogs-who-dig-up/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndal-roper/luther-describes-how-backbiters-are-like-hyenas-or-dogs-who-dig-up/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
