Mark 1 : 8

The Greek particle μέν (G3303) establishes a contrastive framework with the following δέ, creating a formal μέν...δέ construction ('on the one hand...on the other hand'). Neither the Peshitta nor the Vulgate renders this particle, relying instead on the inherent contrast between the two clauses without explicit marking.

Greek employs the preposition ἐν with dative ὕδατι ('in water'), which the Peshitta mirrors with ܒܡܝܐ (beth + noun). The Vulgate, however, uses the bare ablative aqua without preposition, a standard Latin instrumental construction semantically equivalent to the Greek prepositional phrase.

Greek δέ (G1161, adversative conjunction) pairs with the earlier μέν to complete the contrastive structure. Peshitta ܕܝܢ and Vulgate vero both function as adversative conjunctions ('but', 'however'), though vero carries slightly stronger emphatic force in Latin rhetoric than the neutral ܕܝܢ in Syriac.

Greek ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ uses preposition + dative for the instrument of baptism. Peshitta ܒܪܘܚܐ ܕܩܘܕܫܐ employs beth + construct state ('in-Spirit of-holiness'), a standard Semitic genitive construction. Vulgate Spiritu Sancto uses ablative of means without preposition, parallel to its treatment of aqua, maintaining syntactic consistency across both baptismal agents.