Genesis 39:3-6

"And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he ministered unto him: and he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had put into his hand. And it came to pass that from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of Jehovah was upon all that he had, in the house and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand: and he knew not aught that was with him, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was comely and well-favored."

Two things of interest in this passage are:

1. the fact that Joseph did not have charge of Potiphar's meals, and
   
2. the unusual physical beauty that belonged to Joseph.
   

In the first of these, no certainty exists. Dummelow thought this may have been due to "the strict caste laws of Egypt."[7] Yates believed that, "As a foreigner, Joseph could not see to the preparation of food."[8] This is based on the supposition that a foreigner would not have known all of the religious ritual the Egyptians connected with eating. Keil thought it was neither of these, and that the passage simply means that, "Potiphar did not trouble himself with anything but his own eating!"[9] Keil's view seems the most reasonable to this writer.

The remarkable physical appearance of Joseph was probably inherited from his mother Rachel, of whom Genesis speaks in glorying terms of her beauty (Genesis 29:17), using some of the very words here.