Revelation 6:5 kjv

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.

Revelation 6:5 nkjv

When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.

Revelation 6:5 niv

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.

Revelation 6:5 esv

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand.

Revelation 6:5 nlt

When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, "Come!" I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.

Revelation 6 verses

Revelation 6 5 Meaning

This verse describes the opening of the third seal by the Lamb, introducing the third of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. A black horse appears, ridden by an individual holding a pair of scales. This vision signifies a period of severe economic hardship, scarcity, and famine, characterized by the precise rationing and high prices of essential commodities rather than immediate mass starvation. It represents divine judgment that affects daily life and resources.

Revelation 6 5 Context

Revelation 6 presents a series of seven seals being broken by the Lamb (Jesus Christ), revealing a sequence of divine judgments upon the earth. The first four seals introduce the "Four Horsemen," each representing a distinct aspect of tribulation. This verse focuses on the third seal, following the white horse of conquest and the red horse of war, signifying a progressive escalation of tribulation. Historically and culturally, famine was a devastating consequence of war, siege, and natural disasters in the ancient world, often exacerbated by unjust economic practices. The symbolism of scales would have immediately evoked images of trade, rationing, and either fair or unfair allocation of resources. This seal portrays God's continued unleashing of judgment, using natural consequences of conflict combined with direct divine action.

Revelation 6 5 Word analysis

• When He opened: (Greek: kai hote ēnoixen) Refers to Jesus Christ, the Lamb (Rev 5:5), who alone possesses the authority to break the seals of the scroll. This emphasizes divine initiation and orchestration of the unfolding judgments.
• the third seal: (Greek: tēn triten sphragida) Part of a sequential series of seven judgments, indicating progression in the severity and nature of tribulation, each building upon the previous.
• I heard: (Greek: ēkousa) John, as the recipient of the vision, describes his sensory experience, authenticating his prophetic account.
• the third living creature: (Greek: tou tritou zōou) One of the four enigmatic angelic beings surrounding God's throne (Rev 4:6-7). In Rev 4:7, the third creature has a face like a man, potentially signifying humanity or intelligence. Each creature summons one of the first four horsemen, underscoring that these judgments are permitted and indeed commanded from the throne of God.
• say, “Come!”: (Greek: legontos Erchou!) A divine summons, an imperative command or invitation for the black horse and its rider to emerge and act on the earth. This signifies an unleashing of judgment, not a passive event.
• And I looked: (Greek: kai eidon) John's attentive observation, immediately following the auditory command, confirms the manifestation of the vision.
• and behold: (Greek: kai idou) An emphatic interjection that draws the reader's attention to a sudden, striking, or significant appearance within the vision, highlighting the immediate emergence of the next horseman.
• a black horse: (Greek: hippos melas) The color black universally symbolizes darkness, mourning, distress, and often famine. In ancient contexts, it represented a state of lack and suffering. Unlike the red and white horses, which suggest direct action, the black horse points to the severe consequences that follow war.
• and he who sat on it: (Greek: kai ho kathēmenos ep’ auton) The rider is an agent of the specific judgment represented by the horse and its color. He embodies the forces of scarcity and economic hardship.
• had: (Greek: echōn) Possessing or carrying. The instrument of judgment is in his hand, signifying his authority over it and its use.
• a pair of scales: (Greek: zygón) Literally "a yoke," but here referring to a "balance" or "weighing scales." This is the key symbol of the third rider. It immediately suggests precise measuring and rationing of food. In times of scarcity, food items (especially staples like grain) would be weighed meticulously before sale or distribution due to their high value. It signifies economic control and severe price inflation, implying that food becomes a precious, regulated commodity.
• in his hand: (Greek: en tē cheiri autou) The rider wields the instrument of judgment directly, symbolizing his active role in imposing economic distress and scarcity.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!”: This sequence underscores the divine orchestration of judgments. The Lamb initiates, and the creation (represented by the living creature) provides the summons, demonstrating God's sovereign control over every aspect of judgment, from spiritual initiation to earthly manifestation. The deliberate identification of the "third" creature and "third" seal emphasizes the sequential unfolding of the divine plan.
• And I looked, and behold, a black horse: This transition from sound to sight signifies the immediate appearance of the judgment. The color "black" signals the specific nature of this judgment – distinct from conquest or war, focusing on deprivation and economic collapse, often a consequence of the preceding events. The sudden "behold" stresses the impactful appearance of this grim messenger.
• and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand: This central image identifies the nature of the judgment. The rider's instrument, the scales, precisely details that the coming tribulation will primarily involve economic imbalance, food shortages, and the agonizing process of weighing and rationing basic necessities. This is not simply a generic "famine" but one marked by a calculated, regulated scarcity and escalating prices for staple goods.

Revelation 6 5 Bonus section

The symbolism of the scales suggests a deliberate divine judgment affecting supply and demand, impacting basic sustenance for humanity. It carries strong polemical weight against any societal or individual trust in material security or an autonomous economy, demonstrating God's ultimate power to disrupt global markets and provision. The appearance of the horsemen, in succession, paints a vivid picture of escalating tribulation: from general conquest to internecine warfare, then to the resultant famine and economic ruin. This progression aligns with Christ's Olivet Discourse in Matt 24 and Mark 13, where wars and famines are listed as "beginnings of birth pains." The specific imagery resonates with ancient Near Eastern covenants where breaking divine law led to curses of famine and scarcity, ensuring that those in rebellion would suffer through a deprivation of the very essentials of life. The fact that the living creatures, representing creation, summon these horsemen indicates creation's participation in executing divine judgment, mirroring creation's groaning under sin's curse.

Revelation 6 5 Commentary

The third seal unveils a profound judgment centered on economic collapse and widespread scarcity, visualized by a black horse and its rider wielding scales. Unlike the explicit warfare of the second seal, this judgment operates on the vital sphere of sustenance. The scales indicate not necessarily absolute lack of food, but a situation where food staples become exceedingly rare and expensive, requiring meticulous measurement due to their exorbitant cost. A subsequent verse (Rev 6:6) elaborates on this, detailing prices so high that a day's wages would barely cover a meager amount of basic food. This scenario paints a picture of societal distress where economic disparity widens; while staples become precious, luxuries like oil and wine (mentioned in the next verse) are specifically noted as not being harmed, implying continued abundance for the wealthy amidst the common populace's struggle. This seal serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty over global economics and His judgment on a world characterized by injustice and a turning away from Him, bringing hardship that causes mourning and social upheaval.