The high concentration of זנה “to whore” and derived nouns within the first two chapters of Hosea sets the reader back on his heels. The shock is magnified by Yahweh’s statement that he will “expose her lewdness before the eyes of her lovers” (Hos 2:12 [ET 2:10]). Hosea does not stop at graphic sexual language. In short order, Yahweh says that Ephraim went after צָו “excrement” (Hos 5:11) so that Yahweh is like עָשׁ “pus” to Ephraim. The potency of such graphic language is undeniable. But what shall we do with it? We most certainly should understand and describe Hosea’s language as it is meant to shock and offend the reader/hearer to bring about repentance. But to what extent should we replicate such language to shock and offend our readers/hearers? Literary and historical context (both Hosea’s and our own) will provide a framework for how to properly appropriate Hosea’s shocking and offensive language.