What does Genesis 29:21 mean?

Jacob had offered, and Laban had gladly accepted, an extravagant price for the privilege of marrying Laban's younger daughter, Rachel (Genesis 29:16–17). Jacob would work for Laban for seven years in exchange for this price (Genesis 29:18–19). The previous verse reported that those years flew by for Jacob because of his great love for Rachel. He was happy to pay that price to be married to her.

Jacob's words read like a demand. It's possible there had already been tension between Jacob and Laban and that Jacob felt the need to be strong with Laban to bring their deal to a close. Now the seven years was over, and Jacob asked Laban to make good on his end of the deal: Give me your daughter for my wife. More specifically: Give me my wife so that I may consummate the arranged marriage, indicating that Jacob and Rachel had remained chaste during those seven years.

This only further highlights the nature of Laban's upcoming deception. Seven years have passed; this is plenty of time to explain customs or iron out small details. And yet, when the wedding night is over, Jacob will be stunned to find that he's been tricked (Genesis 29:25). Laban's excuse, coming so long after the deal was made, will only confirm that his deceit was intentional (Genesis 29:27).