What does the third Seal and the black horse represent?
The third seal opens to reveal a black horse whose rider carries a pair of balances, representing famine and severe economic hardship on the earth, with food rationed and sold at inflated prices while oil and wine remain untouched.
When the third seal is opened, a black horse appears carrying a rider who holds a pair of balances in his hand. Revelation 6:5-6 records it this way: "And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine." The balances point to the careful measuring and rationing of food, a picture of scarcity where even basic grain becomes costly, requiring what would normally be a day's wage to buy just a small portion.
This black horse and its rider are understood to represent famine and economic hardship, a time when staple foods like wheat and barley are in short supply and prices are driven high, while oil and wine, often seen as more of a luxury, remain protected or untouched. This may point to a divide in society, where certain goods or certain people are shielded from the worst of the scarcity while others struggle for daily bread.
The rider of the black horse is described as one of the angelic spirits sent forth by God, in the same way the riders of the other colored horses are, rather than as a symbol invented for dramatic effect. Zechariah's vision of horses of different colors sent to walk to and fro through the earth is used to show that these horsemen are real agents carrying out God's purposes, with the black horse's mission tied specifically to bringing conditions of famine and economic strain.
As with the other seals, the opening of the third seal is not the famine itself happening in that moment, but rather a preview of a major theme, famine and economic pressure, that will be worked out later once the book itself is opened and its contents unfold on the earth.
The scriptures
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. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white. Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be. And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
From the books
This answer is drawn from these passages in the Mary Banks Faith Library.