Revelation 6:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The third seal brings a black horse whose rider holds a pair of scales.
What Does Revelation 6:5 Mean?
At the third seal the third living creature calls, and a black horse rides out. Its rider carries a pair of balances, the merchant's scales used to weigh out grain by careful measure. Black, the color of mourning and scarcity, sets the tone, and the scales hint that what follows touches daily bread.
Scales in hand mean that food is being counted out, weighed and rationed. This is the shadow of famine and hard prices, when bread is measured because there is not enough. The vision does not flinch from showing want. For those who hunger, it points beyond the empty scale to the Lord who taught us to ask for daily bread and who feeds His people in the wilderness.
Revelation 6:5 in the Original Language
zugos (ζυγός), 'balances' -- a beam-and-pans scale for weighing goods, here measuring out scarce grain.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 6:5
What does Revelation 6:5 mean?
The third seal brings a black horse whose rider holds a pair of scales.