The term denotes crafty or devious behaviour (Genesis 27:35; Proverbs 12:5; Matthew 26:4; Acts 13:10). The psalmist had said that anyone who swears “deceitfully” would certainly not stand in God’s presence (Psalm 24:4). As there is nothing of this sort of behaviour in God or in how he deals with people, those born again of imperishable seed are to “wear” nothing made of deceit. In relation to “malice,” this means that Peter gives no space for a veneer of “love” while “malice” may continue to function under the surface; that would be “deceit.” Peter’s next word is more explicit on precisely this point.