ἔπνιγεν [2 verses](verb 3rd sg imperf ind act) "Took him by the throat" is from pnigo, which means to "choke," "throttle," "strangle," "cook in a close-covered vessel," "bake," "stew," and metaphorically "vex," and "torment."  - "Took him by the throat" is from the verb that means "to choke," and "to strangle." It also means to "torture" in the sense of strangling, not to kill, but to punish until someone does your will.