Greek expresses the imperfect with a single synthetic verb form (ἔλεγον, V-IAI-3P); the Peshitta renders the durative past periphrastically with the participle ܕܐܡܪܝܢ plus the auxiliary ܗܘܘ, a standard Syriac construction for continuous/iterative past action. The Vulgate matches the Greek with the synthetic imperfect dicebant.