Greek Ἦν δέ ('Now it was') and Latin Erat autem agree closely with imperfect + postpositive. The Peshitta renders the verb of being twice (ܗܘܐ ܗܘܐ), a Syriac periphrastic/durative idiom emphasising ongoing state, with the postpositive ܕܝܢ positioned after the temporal phrase rather than after the verb.