Before the explanation of Beruryah, Rebbi Meir must have interpreted "Chata'im" as 'Chot'im' (sinners), as indeed Tagum Yonasan and Rashi do even now.

Many times Chazal's understanding of a Pasuk depends on how we read a word, which is not always the way it is written . Beruryah, it seems, merely pointed out that the Pasuk can be understood literally, in which case, it is not necessary to exegetically explain it in any other way.

Kol Tuv,

R. Eliezer Chrysler