check git-hashes.txt here git show show commits git show show a WHOLE commit (or something else) of the hash git show :FILE .. just a specific FILE REF:FILE blob spec :0:FILE index (staging area) :1:FILE common ancestor, find by a merge base :2:FILE target (on a current branch that you're on) :3:FILE the one you're bringing in (with merge) show : show a from without switching to it samples: # HEAD $ git show HEAD:path/to/file # INDEX $ git show :path/to/file # local $ git show :path/to/file # remote $ git show origin/master:path/to/file