Within God's instructions for His annual holy days, a significant facet emerges concerning sacred assemblies. The Hebrew word translated as sacred assembly is atzeret (Strong's 6116). An atzeret is a holy convocation with a special purpose. The law specifically designates just two sacred assemblies, known as atzerote, the plural of atzeret, and they occur at the end of week-long festivals. The Last Day of Unleavened Bread is commanded to have a sacred assembly, as noted in Deuteronomy 16:8. Additionally, the Eighth Day, which immediately follows the Feast of Tabernacles, is most often associated with a sacred assembly, as seen in Leviticus 23:33-36.

The Hebrew word underlying "sacred assembly" is *atzeret* (Strong's H6116), with its root being *atsar* (Strong's H6113). This root contains the ideas of closing, stopping, restraining, and retaining, which help to explain the purpose of a sacred assembly. The concept of closing is evident as these holy days mark the end of their respective feasts. Stopping or ceasing, along with restraining, aligns with the notion of a Sabbath rest, where normal daily activities are halted, and individuals restrain themselves from their usual routines. Additionally, the idea of retaining emphasizes the importance of taking in, meditating on, and keeping the teachings and lessons from the feasts in long-term memory to apply them in life. These meanings of *atsar* highlight the special purpose of the sacred assemblies on the Last Day of Unleavened Bread and the Eighth Day of the Feast of Tabernacles, distinguishing them from other holy convocations.