DECEIT (DECEPTION, GUILE) (מִרְמָה֒, H5327, δόλος, G1515, deceit, treachery, cunning). Other semantically related Heb. and Gr. words are תַּרְמִית, H9567, רְמִיָּה֮, H8245, עָרְמָה, H6893, שֶׁ֫קֶר, H9214, מַשָּׁאﯴן, H5396, ἀπάτη, πλάνη. Deceit is that which gives a false impression, the deliberate misleading or beguiling of another. Of course, it is always condemned in Scripture (cf. Jer 23:26). It cannot be justified from 2 Corinthians 12:16, for Paul was here employing irony and quoting the words of his critics. Satan is the master of deception (1 Tim 2:14; Rev 20:8, 10). No guile was found on Christ’s lips (1 Pet 2:22).