Syntax Error while using recode command in SPSS

When you have an error, you should post the error message with your question.

In this case, though, the problem is likely the use of the IF statement instead pf DO IF IF takes only a simple statement like compute. Instead use DO IF condition.
RECODE ...
END IF.

As pointed out by JKP, not posting the error makes it a bit difficult to fully debug your syntax.

One think I can tell you from the get go is that you are clearly miss-using the IF command: it needs to have 2 parameters:

IF [condition] [transformation].

You just have the condition, followed by the RECODE command; IF does not work that way. It can work inside a DO IF END IF structure, but you need to provide both parameters.

Alternatively, you can use an IF ELSE IF END IF structure (you would just need to add the "else"s in your current syntax:

DO IF  (WB4 = 1). 
    RECODE WB5 (0=0) (1=1) (2=2) (3=3) (4=4) (5=5) INTO WB5_1.
    ELSE IF  (WB4 = 2). 
    RECODE WB5 (0=5) (1=6) (2=7) (3=8) INTO WB5_1. 
    ELSE IF  (WB4 = 3). 
    RECODE WB5 (0=8) (1=9) (2=10) INTO WB5_1. 
    ELSE IF  (WB4 = 4). 
    RECODE WB5 (0=10) (1=11) (2=12) (3=13) (4=14) (5=15) (6=16) (7=17) INTO WB5_1. 
END IF. 
EXECUTE.