Greek uses a single imperfect ἔλεγεν ('he was saying'); the Peshitta renders the durative aspect periphrastically with ܐܡܪ ܗܘܐ (perfect + enclitic ܗܘܐ), a standard Syriac construction for the imperfect/customary past. The Vulgate dicebat captures the same imperfective force in one word.