Nothing to See but Fear Itself

(א:י"ז)

וַתִּירֶ֤אןָ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙

This past שבת at מנחה, the gabbai made a very observant correction which he humbly chalked up to it being his son's Bar Mitzvah פרשה. The בעל קריאה pronounced it va-tir-ena, as opposed to va-ti-rena. In other words, he put the סגול under the א and pronounced it like a שוא under the ר. The סגול should be under the ר with the א being completely silent. The difference is ever so subtle but it clearly changes the meaning from the root of יראה to the root of ראיה. (See אבן עזרא and רשב"ם) A great catch indeed.