A.T. Robertson Commentary Revelation 6:5

"And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he that sat thereon had a balance in his hand." — Revelation 6:5 (ASV)

A black horse (ιππος μελας). Lust of conquest brings bloodshed, but also famine and hunger. "The colour of mourning and famine. See Jer 4:28; 8:21; Malachi 3:14, where mournfully is, literally, in black" (Vincent).

Had (εχων) as in verse 2.A balance (ζυγον). Literally, a yoke (old word from ζευγνυμ, to join), of slavery (Acts 15:10; Galatians 5:1), of teaching (Matthew 11:29), of weight or measure like a pair of scales evenly balancing as here (Ezekiel 5:1; Ezekiel 45:10). The rider of this black horse, like the spectral figure of hunger, carries in his hand a pair of scales. This is also one of the fruits of war.