Mark 7 : 7

Greek places the adverb μάτην in initial position with postpositive δέ; Vulgate splits the phrase with in vanum following autem; Peshitta uses the single adverbial form ܘܣܪܝܩܐܝܬ with prefixed conjunction. All three convey 'in vain' with coordinating function, differing only in syntactic arrangement.

Greek σέβονταί (G4576, 'worship') is rendered by Peshitta ܕܚܠܝܢ (root d-ḥ-l, 'fear/revere') and Vulgate colunt ('cultivate/honor'). The Syriac choice emphasizes reverential fear, a semantic nuance within the broader worship semantic field, while Latin colunt carries cultic overtones; all three are standard equivalents in their respective traditions.

Greek uses a simple present participle διδάσκοντες; Peshitta employs the temporal particle ܟܕ + active participle ܡܠܦܝܢ, making the temporal/causal relationship more explicit; Vulgate uses the bare present participle docentes. The Syriac construction is a characteristic syntactic preference for marking participial clauses, semantically equivalent to the Greek and Latin.

Greek presents a double accusative construction (διδασκαλίας ἐντάλματα, 'teachings [which are] precepts'); Peshitta uses construct chain ܝܘܠܦܢܐ ܕܦܘܩܕܢܐ ('teaching of commandments'); Vulgate inserts the coordinating conjunction et between doctrinas and præcepta, treating them as two distinct objects. The Vulgate's et makes the apposition more explicit, while Greek and Syriac maintain tighter syntactic unity.